                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                 2024 May 31

                        The Nebulous Realm of WR 134
                     Image Credit & Copyright: Xin Long

   Explanation: Made with narrowband filters, this cosmic snapshot covers
   a field of view over twice as wide as the full Moon within the
   boundaries of the constellation Cygnus. It highlights the bright edge
   of a ring-like nebula traced by the glow of ionized hydrogen and oxygen
   gas. Embedded in the region's expanse of interstellar clouds, the
   complex, glowing arcs are sections of shells of material swept up by
   the wind from Wolf-Rayet star WR 134, brightest star near the center of
   the frame. Distance estimates put WR 134 about 6,000 light-years away,
   making the frame over 100 light-years across. Shedding their outer
   envelopes in powerful stellar winds, massive Wolf-Rayet stars have
   burned through their nuclear fuel at a prodigious rate and end this
   final phase of massive star evolution in a spectacular supernova
   explosion. The stellar winds and final supernova enrich the
   interstellar material with heavy elements to be incorporated in future
   generations of stars.

                       Tomorrow's picture: stereo moon
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
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                             & Michigan Tech. U.

