NGC 6820 is a large emission nebula surrounding the open star cluster NGC 6823 in Vulpecula. The cluster contains hot young blue stars that formed out of the nebula 2 million years ago. Erosion of the dust and gas in the nebula by the stellar winds from the stars in the cluster have formed a distinctive pillar, or elephant trunk, on the northeast side of the nebula, facing the star cluster. NGC 6820 and NGC 6823 lie 6, 000 light-years distant. The nebula subtends an apparent angle of 30 x 30 arcminutes, which at that distance would correspond to a true size of 55 light-years in space. | |
Licence : | Droits gérés |
Crédit: | Science Photo Library / Lodriguss, Gerard |
Taille de l’image : | 5200 px × 3464 px |
Model Release : | Non requis |
Property Release : | Non requis |
Restrictions : | - |