As part of its 60th anniversary in the field of astronomy, the European Southern Observatory (ESO), has released stunning images of the latest nebula in existence.
The Very Large Telescope has snapped photos of the cone nebula, which appears to be a bizarre horn-shaped entity in the galaxy. Astronomers said that it's 2,500 light-years away from the planet.
Cone Nebula's Fascinating Formation
According to a report by 9newslive, the cone nebula exists as part of the NGC 2264 constellation, which is also known as the unicorn or the Monoceros.
ESO unveiled the breath-taking images of this nebula on Thursday, Nov. 10, as a way to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the institute in astronomical explorations.
Astronomers were able to witness the true beauty of this space entity via ESO's Very Large Telescope. The huge observatory is currently operating in Chile, particularly in the Atacama desert.
Over the past years, scientists have been studying the Cone nebula, which is projected to be 2,500 light-years away from the Earth. Because of its interesting shape and pattern, it has become a quick subject of astronomical interest among astrophysicists and space nerds.
It's comparable to what NASA's Hubble Space Telescope discovered in the past: the Pillars of Creation in Eagle Nebula. With the newborn stars shifting their position because of the stellar winds, several patterns form out of the blue.
The haunting image of the nebula is both an art and a discovery at the same time. The blue frequencies indicate the presence of hydrogen gas in the region. Meanwhile, the red color means that there is a sulfur gas there.
It's fascinating to know how a star formation builds such a strange pattern at sight. This cosmic gem has impressed the experts with its pillar-like shape, which appears to be fading away.
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How Astronomers Search For the Cone Nebula
Per Business Insider, the experts tweaked the telescope to the point where the Monoceros constellation will meet the group of Procyon and Betelgeuse stars halfway.
It should be noted that the unicorn constellation is not always seen in other parts of the world. Specifically, you can exclusively spot this during the winter season in the Northern Hemisphere.
If you want a more immersive representation of the Cone Nebula, ESO released a YouTube video wherein you can see the zoomed version of the constellation as it interacts with the NGC 2264 star cluster where the nebula is located.
The cloudy appearance of the cone nebula is something you should think about. It's veiled with dust and dead stars, and its dark coloration is accentuated by a dramatic view of gleaming stars around it.
Not every day will you see a formation like this, given how far the large telescopes see from the planet. From the Milky Way to the other galaxies, astronomical sightings are endless for astronomers.
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Written by Joseph Henry
