ESO: Stellar nursery revealed with visible and infrared survey telescope

A new report from the European Southern Observatory (ESO):

Serpent in the sky captured with ESO telescope

This image of the spectacular Sh2-54 nebula was taken in infrared light using ESO’s VISTA telescope at Paranal Observatory in Chile. The clouds of dust and gas that are normally obvious in visible light are less evident here, and in this light we can see the light of the stars behind the nebulae now piercing through. Credit: ESO/VVVX

A myriad of stars is revealed behind the faint orange glow of the Sh2-54 nebula in this new infrared image. Located in the constellation Serpens, this stunning stellar nursery has been captured in all its intricate detail using the Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA) based at ESO’s Paranal Observatory in Chile.

When the ancients looked up at the night sky they saw random patterns in the stars. The Greeks, for instance, named one of these “constellations” Serpens, because of its resemblance to a snake. What they wouldn’t have been able to see is that at the tail end of this constellation there is a wealth of stunning astronomical objects. These include the Eagle, the Omega and the Sh2-54 nebulae; the last of these is revealed, in a new light, in this spectacular infrared image.

Nebulae are vast clouds of gas and dust from which stars are born. Telescopes have allowed astronomers to identify and analyse these rather faint objects in exquisite detail. The nebula shown here, located about 6000 light-years away, is officially called Sh2-54; the “Sh” refers to the US astronomer Steward Sharpless, who catalogued more than 300 nebulae in the 1950s.

As the technology used to explore the Universe progresses, so too does our understanding of these stellar nurseries. One of these advances is the ability to look beyond the light that can be detected by our eyes, such as infrared light. Just as the snake, the namesake of this nebula, evolved the ability to sense infrared light to better understand its environment, so too have we developed infrared instruments to learn more about the Universe.

Whilst visible light is easily absorbed by clouds of dust in nebulae, infrared light can pass through the thick layers of dust almost unimpeded. The image here therefore reveals a wealth of stars hidden behind the veils of dust. This is particularly useful as it allows scientists to study what happens in stellar nurseries in much greater detail, and thus learn more about how stars form.

A visible-light image of the Sh2-54 nebula, captured by the VLT Survey Telescope at ESO’s Paranal Observatory in Chile. At these wavelengths the structure of the nebula is clear and the clouds of dust and gas block the light of stars within and behind it. [See side-by-side interactive comparison of Sh2-54 in visible and infrared light] Credit: ESO

This image was captured in infrared light using the sensitive 67-million-pixel camera on ESO’s VISTA telescope at Paranal Observatory in Chile. It was taken as part of the VVVX survey — the VISTA Variables in the Via Láctea eXtended survey. This is a multi-year project that has repeatedly observed a large portion of the Milky Way at infrared wavelengths, providing key data to understand stellar evolution.

Links

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The Space Show this week – Jan.3.2023

The guests and topics of discussion on The Space Show this week:

1. Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023; 7 pm PST (9 pm CST, 10 pm EST): We welcome back Robert Zimmerman to start off the year with news, views, policies and more.

2. Hotel Mars – Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023; 1:00 pm PST (3:00 pm CST, 4:00 pm EST): TBD. Check the Upcoming Show Menu at www.thespaceshow.com for  updates on scheduling.

3. Friday, Jan.6, 2023; 9:30-11 am PST (11:30 am-1 pm CST, 12:30-2 pm EST): We welcome back Lt. General Steven Kwast, USAF (RET) for commentary on space policy, the Space Force, China and what’s ahead for national security space in 2023.

4. Sunday, Jan.8, 2023; 12-1:30 pm PST (2-3:30 pm CST, 3-4:30 pm EST): We welcome back author M. G. Lord for her new book, LA Made: Blood, Sweat & Rockets.

Some recent shows:

** Friday, Dec.30.2022Thomas A. Olsonwas back with us for our annual space year in review“.

** Wednesday, Dec.28.2022Dr. Haym Benaroya and Raymond Martin discussed “their paper about using lunar lava tubes for habitats. Dr. Benaroya was the thesis advisor for Raymond and this published paper was his Master’s Thesis in engineering“.

** Tuesday, Dec.27, 2022Dr. Thomas Spilkerof Orbital Assembly was back with us for a detailed update re OAC, plus a great discussion on orbital and inspace construction, economics, technology, markets and such“.

** Friday, Dec.23.2022Dr. Lee Cronin spoke with David Livingston and co-host Bill Gowanabout advancements in his work to determine what life is, when it might be life, [and what] we don’t know is life“.

** Thursday, Dec. 22.2022Howard Bloom 

addressed many topics including Musk, Starship, Artemis, SLS, the Gateway, Ukraine, Putin, nuclear war, China, technology, our educational system, Pres. Biden, and much more. Don’t miss this 92 minute wide ranging discussion.

** Tuesday, Dec.20.2022Rick Fisher provided “an historical and present analysis of China and their space program with commentary spilling over into other important areas of our relationship with China“. Background articles:

** Sunday, Dec.18.2022Michael Listner reviewed

review space law, regulations and more re 2022 on this show. We also talked about congress, the election and space in the Middle East.

** See also:
* The Space Show Archives
* The Space Show Newsletter
* The Space Show Shop

The Space Show is a project of the One Giant Leap Foundation.

The Space Show - David Livingston
The Space Show – Dr. David Livingston

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Night sky highlights for January and 2023

** What’s Up: January 2023 Skywatching Tips from NASA – NASA JPL

** Tonight’s Sky: January 2023 – Space Telescope Science InstituteTonight’s Sky

In January, the northern hemisphere features beautiful views of Capella, a pair of giant yellow stars; Aldebaran, a red giant star; and two star clusters—the Hyades and the Pleiades. Keep watching for the awe-inspiring space-based views of the Crab Nebula, the remains of a star that exploded as a supernova.

** What to see in the night sky: January 2023BBC Sky at Night Magazine

Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel reveal what’s coming up in the night sky this month, including Mercury, Venus and the other planets of the Solar System; Comet E3/2022 (ZTF); Orion; Sirius and the Winter Triangle asterism.

** Sky & Telescope’s Sky Tour Podcast – January 2023: January: Goodbye, Saturn (Hello, Venus):

[ Update Jan.5.2023: Here is the video version of the podcast:

]

See also

** What’s in the Night Sky January 2023 – Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) | Mars Occultation – Alyn Wallace

00:00 Intro
00:40 Northern Hemisphere Night Sky
03:22 Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF)
04:52 Southern Hemisphere Night Sky
06:10 Full Moon
07:21 Lunar Occultation of Uranus
07:54 Lunar Occultations of Mars
08:46 Quadrantid Meteor Shower
11:20 #WITNS Winners

** Night Sky Notebook January 2023Peter Detterline

Start the year out right by seeing what to observe in the night sky for January 2023.

** See also these posting for January:

** Night sky highlights for all of 2023:

** 2023 Unmissable Night Sky Events! – Alyn Wallace

** More at:

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Stellaris: People of the Stars