APOD 2.2 Historical Supernove Remnant



RCW 86: Historical Supernova Remnant



What's 8,200 light-years away, 50 light-years across, and the remnant of a star newly noted in 185 AD? RCW 86 of course. What's intriguing is that its vastness seems nothing compared to the distances with which it is related (from our galaxy etc.). In addition to that this is only the remnant of the original star. Granted it is expanding both as a supernova shock wave and as interstellar dust, but even then it is incredible to consider that it is so old and still so large. Generally I think of things becoming smaller, less important with age. But here the older the remnant gets the more it expands, becoming both larger and more interesting to study. It's almost as if it is more interesting after its 'death' than while it existed as an actual star. Both hold importance of what must be at least equal amounts, and we will not know which holds more value study-wise until many, many years from now when the remnant begins to disappear.

APOD 2.1 Ghost of the Cepheus Flare

Ghost of the Cepheus Flare

This appropriately titled APOD was from Halloween day, and if you sort through the holiday-related phrasing and lingo there's quite a spectacle to be had. The picture is not actually a ghost... but it is a cloud of cosmic dust (interesting by itself) that is seen by reflected starlight. It is referenced as 'at the edge' of the Cepheus Flare molecular cloud complex, even though it is 1,200 light-years away. If that is 'at the edge', then I can't even imagine what is considered just 'close'. Maybe it's the brightness of the background stars that throws off the comprehending of the distance. From Earth you cannot see that many stars that bright at once except on very rare occasions during which you must by in an extremely remote place. They make it almost unreal. Most importantly, however, is the dark spot on the right side of the image. That spot could extremely easily be the beginning stages of a binary star forming. So in trying to capture one fraction of a second of a so-called 'ghost', the picture really captures the creation of something new.