Rosette Nebula (14 Feb. 2011)
I chose to delve into this Nebula because we talked about it in class today and it is in the general direction of one of this week's constellations. The Rosette Nebula or, or more bland name NGC 2237, doesn't appear to diminish the appearance of this stunning emission nebula. The interior of the nebula contains an open cluster of bright young stars designated as NGC 2244. The majority of these stars formed about four million years ago from the nebular material and their stellar winds are creating quite an impressionable hole in the nebula's center, insulated by a layer of dust and hot gas. Ultraviolet light from the hot cluster stars causes the surrounding nebula to glow. The Rosette Nebula spans about 100 light-years across, is about 5000 light-years away, and can be seen with a small telescope if you look towards the constellation Monoceros.
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