Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                              2024 November 17
     [2]A starfield is dominated by light brown dust. In the middle is a
    parabolic gas cloud opening toward the lower right. A bright star is
   near the center at the apex of the parabolic gas cloud. Please see the
                 explanation for more detailed information.

                      LDN 1471: A Windblown Star Cavity
     Image Credit: [3]Hubble, [4]NASA, [5]ESA; Processing & [6]License:
                               [7]Judy Schmidt

   Explanation: What is the cause of this unusual parabolic structure?
   This illuminated cavity, known as [8]LDN 1471, was created by a newly
   forming [9]star, seen as the bright source at the peak of the
   [10]parabola. This [11]protostar is experiencing a [12]stellar outflow
   which is then interacting with the surrounding material in the
   [13]Perseus Molecular Cloud, causing it to brighten. We see only one
   side of the cavity -- the other side is hidden by dark [14]dust. The
   [15]parabolic shape is caused by the widening of the [16]stellar-wind
   blown cavity over time. Two additional structures can also be seen
   either side of the [17]protostar; these are known as [18]Herbig-Haro
   objects, again caused by the interaction of the outflow with the
   surrounding material. What causes the [19]striations on the cavity
   walls, though, [20]remains unknown. The [21]featured image was taken by
   NASA and ESA’s [22]Hubble Space Telescope after an original detection
   by the [23]Spitzer Space Telescope.

              Explore Your Universe: [24]Random APOD Generator
                         Tomorrow's picture: Bok Man
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    Authors & editors: [36]Robert Nemiroff ([37]MTU) & [38]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([39]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [40]Specific rights apply.
            [41]NASA Web Privacy, [42]Accessibility, [43]Notices;
                A service of: [44]ASD at [45]NASA / [46]GSFC,
                         [47]NASA Science Activation
                           & [48]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2411/LDN1471_HubbleSchmidt_1024.jpg
   3. https://hla.stsci.edu/
   4. https://www.nasa.gov/
   5. https://www.esa.int/
   6. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
   7. https://geckzilla.com/
   8. https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/W3Browse/nebula-catalog/ldn.html
   9. https://science.nasa.gov/universe/stars/
  10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parabola
  11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protostar
  12. https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev-astro-081915-023341
  13. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perseus_molecular_cloud
  14. https://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/images/173
  15. https://www.mathwarehouse.com/quadratic/parabola/interactive-parabola.php
  16. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap200308.html
  17. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130904.html
  18. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbig–Haro_object
  19. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/striation#/media/File:Striation_II_(3770181363).jpg
  20. https://static01.nyt.com/images/2019/05/19/world/17grumpycat-1/17grumpycat-1-videoSixteenByNine3000.jpg
  21. https://www.flickr.com/photos/geckzilla/48507562636/in/dateposted/
  22. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble
  23. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/spitzer/
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/random_apod.html
  25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap241116.html
  26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  29. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  30. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  31. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  32. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  33. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  34. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=241117
  35. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap241118.html
  36. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  37. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  38. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  39. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  40. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  41. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  42. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  43. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  44. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  45. https://www.nasa.gov/
  46. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  47. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  48. http://www.mtu.edu/