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It's a Christmas wreath... 1,000 light years away: NASA discovers amazing nebula (complete with red bow and silver bells)
Last updated at 5:58 AM on 24th December 2011
NASA scientists were in a very festive mood on Friday, releasing an amazing image of a nebula they nicknamed the 'wreath nebula.'The scene looks like a ring of evergreens decorated with a red Christmasy bow with silver bells throughout.
It was captured by Nasa's WISE space telescope.
NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) is getting into a festive mood this Christmas after imaging a beautiful nebula called Barnard 3, or IRAS Ring G159.6-18.5. Nicknamed the "Wreath Nebula" by mission scientists, Bernard 3 does have some familiarity with the green and red wreath hanging peacefully on your neighbor's door. But looks can be deceiving.
The star-forming nebula is actually named Barnard 3, or IRAS Ring G159.6-18.5, discovery.com reports.
But this picture of serenity is deceiving. From 1,000 light years away, this nebula looks peaceful but it is actually a mass of savage winds blasting from the central bright star. in the middle of the red area.
The blizzard winds have turned the warm dust into a wreath shape.
The central red glow is thought to be metal-rich gases being heated up by the central bright star.Factor in the many shining stars, lovingly dubbed 'silver bells' by Nasa scientists, and you have a truly cosy Christmas scene.
A nebula is generally a star-forming region made up of gas, dust, and other materials that clump together to form larger masses.
These in turn attract further matter, eventually becoming big enough to form stars.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2078274/Nasa-telescope-picks-amazing-Christmas-wreath-deep-space-1-000-light-years-away.html#ixzz1hTH8xKuz
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