Monday, 28 May, 2018

The Horsehead Nebula

Posted on Sunday, 1 June, 2014Sunday, 20 August, 2017 by Zheluo Cai

It is a dark nebula in the constellation Orion, located just south of the star Alnitak, and is part of the much larger Orion Molecular Cloud Complex, approximately 1500 light years from Earth. It is one of the most identifiable nebulae because of the shape of its swirling cloud of dark dust and gases, which bears some resemblance to a horse’s head when viewed from Earth. The red or pinkish glow originates from hydrogen gas predominantly behind the nebula, ionized by the nearby bright star Sigma Orionis. Bright spots in the Horsehead Nebula’s base are young stars just in the process of forming.

Nebulae, from the Greek word for “cloud,” are made of gas and tiny dust particles enclosed in shells of nitrogen and carbon monoxide ice. The temperature of a nebula is about 10 degrees K. This temperature is so cold that scientists speculate that the nebula will eventually collapse in on itself, and the pressures generated will begin the ignition of proto-stars.

A Beautiful Trifid.
Image Credit & Copyright: R Jay Gabany. The Trifid Nebula is a cosmic study in colourful contrasts. Also known as M20, it lies about 5,000 light-years away toward the nebula rich constellation Sagittarius. A star-forming region in the plane of our galaxy, the Trifid illustrates three different types of astronomical nebulae; red emission nebulae dominated by light emitted by hydrogen atoms, blue reflection nebulae produced by dust reflecting starlight, and dark nebulae where dense dust clouds appear in silhouette. Pillars and jets sculpted by newborn stars, below and left of the emission nebula's centre, appear in Hubble Space Telescope close-up images of the region. The Trifid Nebula is about 40 light-years across.

The Cherokee Indians were one of the largest of five Native American tribes who settled in the American Southeast portion of the country. The tribe came from Iroquoian descent and had originally been from the Great Lakes region of the country, but eventually settled closer to the east coast. The Cherokee lived in cabins made of logs instead of the stereotypical teepee. They were a strong tribe with several smaller sections, all lead by chiefs. The tribe was highly religious and spiritual. When the American Revolution took place, the Cherokee Indians supported the British soldiers and even assisted them in battle by taking part in several attacks.

The flag of Luxembourg consists of three horizontal stripes, red, white and blue, and was first used between 1845 and 1848. It was officially adopted on 23 June 1972. As a landlocked nation, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg had little need for a national flag until the middle of the 19th century. Its heraldic banner, dating back to the early 13th century, was composed of horizontal stripes of white and blue with a rampant red lion. That banner, however, represented the dukes of Luxembourg and not the nation’s people. Following the Napoleonic Wars, Luxembourg, which had been part of the Holy Roman Empire, became a separate country under the protection of the Netherlands. The tricolour flag is almost identical to that of the Netherlands, except that it is longer and its blue stripe is a lighter shade.

Benin - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions Friday, 11 May, 2018
Exercise normal precautions in Benin. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. Exercise increased caution in: Urban areas due to crime. Beaches due to crime Read the Safety and Security section on the country information page. If you decide to travel to Benin: Do not physically resist any robbery attempt. Use caution […]
Panama - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions Monday, 7 May, 2018
Exercise normal precautions in Panama. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. Do not travel to: Parts of the Mosquito Gulf due to crime. Parts of the Darién Region due to crime. Read the Safety and Security section on the country information page. If you decide to travel to Panama: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment […]

Brazil Friday, 25 May, 2018
Summary: Lorry drivers have been on strike across Brazil since Monday 21 May. This is affecting fuel deliveries to petrol stations and many have closed in major cities. Some flights and intercity bus services are subject to disruption and cancellations. You should check with your airline or bus company before travelling.
GOV.UK
Chad Friday, 25 May, 2018
Latest update: Safety and security section (Crime) and summary - the number of reports of car-jackings on roads outside N'Djamena has increased, including during daylight hours; it is recommended that you use a police or military escort when driving outside the capital, and carry working communications equipment
GOV.UK

The self-portrait is an 1889 oil on canvas painting by the post-impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh. The picture was painted in September that year, shortly before he left Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in southern France. This self-portrait, which may have been his last, was one of about 40 van Gogh produced over a 10-year period. He would paint himself because he often lacked the money to pay for models. He took the painting with him to Auvers-sur-Oise, near Paris, where he showed it to Dr Paul Gachet, who thought it was "absolutely fanatical." The Musée d'Orsay in Paris obtained the picture in 1986.

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