NGC 6188
NGC 6188—the Dragons of Ara—is a stunning emission nebula in the southern sky.
Story
Dragons—the Dragons of Ara, to be precise—grace the southern night sky in the nebula NGC 6188. This nebula, invisible to the naked eye, is a mere four thousand light years away. NGC 6188 is young by stellar standards. This region is birthing new stars who will one day grace the skies with their own light.
This narrowband photograph results from using special filters and imaging hydrogen, oxygen, and silicon, then mapping those normally invisible gases into colors. This technique is the same process that the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes use. The results are scientifically meaningful and aesthetically pleasing.
Also present in this image is the emission nebula NGC 6164 in the lower portion of the photograph. Although small, it commands attention, adding to the dance of the dragons. An expanding shroud of billowing gas surrounds NGC 6164.
Whether you see dragons fighting or clouds of molecular dust and gases, NGC 6188 presents a bold and striking view of our universe.
See Also
- Carina Nebula The Carina Nebula, a mere 7,500 light years away from Earth, is a stellar nursery. Located in the Sagittarius arm of the Milky Way, it produces new stars and displays a brilliance all its own.
- M31 Andromeda The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is the nearest major galaxy to our own Milky Way. This deep space photograph gives us a glimpse into it, and lets us wonder who might be looking at us.
- Cygnus Wall Cygnus Wall gives us a detailed, close up view, of NGC 7000--the North American Nebula. Deep space has never looked so amazing!
Additional information
| Finish | Matted Photograph, Finished Aluminum |
|---|---|
| Size | 12×12, 20×20, 8×8 |