APOD: 2026 May 19 – NGC 2170: The Angel Nebula
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Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
2026 May 19
NGC 2170: The Angel Nebula
Image Credit & Copyright:
Jason Marriott
Explanation:
Is this a painting or a photograph?
In this celestial
abstract art
composed with a cosmic brush, dusty nebula
NGC 2170,
also known as the
Angel Nebula, shines just above the image center.
Reflecting the light of nearby hot stars,
NGC 2170 is joined
by other bluish reflection nebulae, a
red emission region, many dark
absorption nebulae,
and a backdrop of
colorful stars.
Like the common household items that
abstract painters
often choose for their subjects, the clouds of gas, dust, and hot
stars featured
here
are also commonly found in a setting like this one —
a massive, star-forming molecular cloud in the
constellation of the
Unicorn
(Monoceros).
The giant
molecular cloud
Mon R2,
is impressively close, estimated
to be only 2,400
light-years or so away.
At that distance, this
canvas would be over 60
light-years across.
Almost Hyperspace:
Random APOD Generator
Tomorrow’s picture: open space
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