NGC 7822: Stars and Dust Pillars in Infrared
Young stars themselves are clearing out their nursery in NGC 7822. Within the nebula , bright edges and complex dust sculptures dominate this detailed skyscape taken in infrared light by NASA's Wide Field Infrared Survey Explorer ( WISE ) satellite. NGC 7822 lies at the edge of a giant molecular cloud toward the northern constellation Cepheus , a glowing star forming region that lies about 3,000 light-years away. The atomic emission of light by the nebula's gas is powered by energetic radiation from the hot stars, whose powerful wind s and light also sculpt and erode the denser pillar shapes. Stars could still be forming inside the pillars by gravitational collapse , but as the pillars are eroded away, any forming stars will ultimately be cut off from their reservoir of star stuff . This field spans around 40 light-years at the estimated distance of NGC 7822 . Free APOD Lectures: January 5 in NYC & January 9 in DC