Image of Rho Opiuchi Nebula Complex by Terry Hancock
By: Brian Ventrudo
July 10, 2017This image by astrophotographer Terry Hancock at Grand Mesa Observatory in Colorado shows the starlight scattered by interstellar dust in the direction of the stars Rho Ophiuchi and Alpha Scorpii (Antares). While most reflection nebulae are blue-white because they're caused by the scattered light of young hot stars, the dust around Antares reflects the orange light from this massive, evolved super giant star. In this image, the blue-white multiple star Rho Ophiuchi is at upper left, globular cluster M4 is to the upper right, and Antares is at mid right.
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Article © AstronomyConnect.com and photos © Terry Hancock, 2017. Reproduction without permission prohibited.
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