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September 14 2009 01:49 UTC | Views: 305 | Comments: 0
Posted by: TonyF in ESO
Today ESO has released a new image of the Trifid Nebula, showing just
why it is a firm favorite of astronomers, amateur and professional
alike. This massive star factory is so named for the dark dust bands
that trisect its glowing heart, and is a rare combination of three
nebula types, revealing the fury of freshly formed stars and presaging
more star birth.
The French astronomer Charles Messier first observed the Trifid Nebula
in June 1764, recording the hazy, glowing object as entry number 20 in
his renowned catalog. Observations made about 60 years later by John
Herschel of the dust lanes that appear to divide the cosmic cloud into
three lobes inspired the English astronomer to coin the name “Trifid”.
image credit: ESO
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