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Puffin Kiss💛

The Dragons of Ara - NGC 6188

In the constellation of Ara, 4000 light years from Earth lies NGC 6188. On the edge of a large molecular cloud not seen in visible light, this emissions nebula looks like the heavenly battle of two dragons, fighting over the newly born cluster of stars, that ultimately blaze out UV and make the hydrogen gas glow red. In some areas a blue light is visible, the reflection of the light of those stars hiddnen within the dark nebula.

Towards the bottom of the upper image, is NGC 6164, what appears like a planetary nebula, but is in fact an giant O type star, bombarding the dust and gas with huge amounts of stellar winds and radiation, creating it's own bubble, compressing the material at the outer edges and then illuminating it through reflection and emission.

Dragon’s Back

Rhododendron in the Rain II

NGC 5367 and CG12

2050 light-years away in the constellation of Centaurus, lies a comet that isn't a comet.

The head is a beautiful example of dark nebula's having created beautiful new blue stars, some that now shine out against the dusty backdrop.

The entire structure gives the illusion of a comet, but it's a body of dust and gas, that just happens to have the densest area in one place, giving that look.