NGC 1333
and several Herbig-Haro objects: LRGB
Object type: reflection nebula
Constellation: Perseus
Date: 2007-12-29
Location: Postalm/ Austria (1300m)
Telescope: 80/480 TMB + 0.8 TV reducer/flattener
Camera: Starlight SXV-h9
Image type: LRGB
Binning: 1x1 L and 2x2 RGB
Exposure time: L 18x15'
R: 5x10'
G: 6x10'
B: 6x12'
Total exposure time: 7.5h
The dust is so thick in the center of NGC 1333 that you can hardly see the
stars forming. Conversely, the very dust clouds that hide the stars also reflects
their optical light, giving NGC 1333's predominantly blue glow the general
designation of a reflection nebula. A highly detailed image of the nebula,
shown above, was taken recently by the Mayall 4-meter telescope on Kitt Peak
in Arizona, USA and released to honor astronomer Stephen Strom on his retirement.
Visible near the image top are vast blue regions of dust predominantly reflecting
the light from bright massive stars. Visible in the thick central dust are
not only newly formed stars but red jets and red-glowing gas energized by
the light and winds from recently formed young stars. The NGC 1333 nebula
contains hundreds of newly formed stars that are less than one million years
old. Reflection nebula NGC 1333 lies about 1,000 light years away toward the
constellation of Perseus.