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| Spitzer snaps stunning image of 'ring' nebula | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Spitzer space telescope has snapped a striking false-colour image of the RCW 120 nebula, a vast cloud of gas and dust where stars have recently formed. | |
| RCW 120 lies about 4,300 light-years away in the constellation Scorpius, just above the plane of the galaxy. | RCW 120 lies about 4,300 light-years away in the constellation Scorpius, just above the plane of the galaxy. |
| It emits a broad range of colours in the infrared region, with wavelengths far beyond those we can see. | It emits a broad range of colours in the infrared region, with wavelengths far beyond those we can see. |
| The ring-shaped emission is believed to originate from the heat of giant "O" type stars at the ring's centre. | The ring-shaped emission is believed to originate from the heat of giant "O" type stars at the ring's centre. |
| These are among the most massive, hottest and bright stars we know of. Infrared light is emitted from the surrounding gas and dust as these stars impart their enormous heat. | These are among the most massive, hottest and bright stars we know of. Infrared light is emitted from the surrounding gas and dust as these stars impart their enormous heat. |
| Two different Spitzer instruments have contributed the colours represent increasing wavelengths; blue is 3,600 nanometres, green is 8,000 nanometres, and red is 24,000 nanometres (visible light that we see stops at about 800 nanometres). | Two different Spitzer instruments have contributed the colours represent increasing wavelengths; blue is 3,600 nanometres, green is 8,000 nanometres, and red is 24,000 nanometres (visible light that we see stops at about 800 nanometres). |
| RCW 120 is a particularly striking example of the many rings around O stars that Spitzer spots in the course of its observations. | RCW 120 is a particularly striking example of the many rings around O stars that Spitzer spots in the course of its observations. |
| However, the Spitzer team needs help in identifying and classifying what the space telescope can see. | However, the Spitzer team needs help in identifying and classifying what the space telescope can see. |
| As part of the "Zooniverse" series of citizen science projects, the public can visit the Milky Way Project to help spot more rings like RCW 120. | As part of the "Zooniverse" series of citizen science projects, the public can visit the Milky Way Project to help spot more rings like RCW 120. |