swirling stars the North America Nebula. region resembles North America, new infrared view NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope
Image details
Contributor:
Archive Image / Alamy Stock PhotoImage ID:
C1R403File size:
132.3 MB (10.4 MB Compressed download)Releases:
Model - no | Property - noDo I need a release?Dimensions:
6800 x 6800 px | 57.6 x 57.6 cm | 22.7 x 22.7 inches | 300dpiDate taken:
22 March 2011More information:
This image could have imperfections as it’s either historical or reportage.
Disappearing Act This swirling landscape of stars is known as the North America Nebula. In visible light, the region resembles North America, but in this new infrared view from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, the continent disappears. Where did the continent go? The reason you don't see it in Spitzer's view is due, in part, to the fact that infrared light can penetrate dust whereas visible light cannot. Dusty, dark clouds in the visible image become transparent in Spitzer's view. In addition, Spitzer's infrared detectors pick up the glow of dusty cocoons enveloping baby stars. Clusters of young stars (about one million years old) can be found throughout the image. Slightly older but still very young stars (about 3-5 million years) are also liberally scattered across the complex. Some areas of this nebula are still very thick with dust and appear dark even in Spitzer's view and are likely to be the youngest stars in the complex (less than a million years old).