Galactic Cirrus: Mandel Wilson 9
Image Credit &
Copyright:
Gabriel Rodrigues Santos
The combined light of
stars along the Milky Way
are reflected by these cosmic dust clouds that soar
300 light-years or so above the plane of our galaxy.
Known to some as integrated flux nebulae and
commonly found
at high galactic latitudes, the dusty
galactic cirrus
clouds are faint.
But they can be traced over large regions of the sky
toward the North and South Galactic poles.
Along with the reflection of starlight, studies indicate
the dust clouds produce a
faint reddish luminescence
as interstellar dust grains
convert invisible ultraviolet radiation to visible red light.
Also capturing nearby Milky Way stars and
distant background galaxies,
this remarkably deep, wide-field image
explores a complex of faint galactic cirrus known as Mandel Wilson 9.
It spans over three degrees across planet Earth's skies toward
the far southern constellation Apus.