Detail in Horsehead Nebula’s "Mane"

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Produced by the Space Telescope Science Institute’s Office of Public Outreach in collaboration with NASA’s Universe of Learning partners: Caltech/IPAC, Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Video imagery:

  • Three images of the Horsehead Nebula: NASA, ESA, CSA, Karl Misselt (University of Arizona), Alain Abergel (IAS, CNRS), Mahdi Zamani The Euclid Consortium, Hubble Heritage Project (STScI, AURA)
  • Near-infrared image, edge of the Horsehead Nebula: NASA, ESA, CSA, Karl Misselt (University of Arizona), Alain Abergel (IAS, CNRS)
  • Mid-infrared image, edge of the Horsehead Nebula: NASA, ESA, CSA, Karl Misselt (University of Arizona), Alain Abergel (IAS, CNRS) 

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Photos of planets, nebulas, and galaxies scroll down on the screen. Text, NEWS FROM THE UNIVERSE. 
 
Three photos of the Horsehead Nebula. One is labeled Euclid, Visible Near Infrared. The next one shows just the famous horse head part and is labeled Hubble, Infrared. the third shows just a portion of the head of the horse, and it's labeled Webb, Infrared. Text, MAY 3, 2024 DETAIL IN HORSEHEAD NEBULA'S "MANE." NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has captured the most detailed infrared images ever of the top edge or "mane" of the famous Horsehead Nebula. The top of the mane section is blue and red swirling gas. A very bright star shines above it. Close up shot of the cloud shows streaks of glowing white. Text, This region. captured in near-infrared light, spans 0.8 light-years in width. Red wisps of hydrogen rise above the nebula's blue clouds which also contain methane and water ice. In mid-infrared light, dusty silicates and spot-like hydrocarbon molecules glow. Webb detected a network of features that trace the evaporation of dust and heated gas from the nebula as it is hit with strong ultraviolet light from nearby young stars. Astronomers estimate that the Horsehead has about 5 million years left before it evaporates completely. This news was brought to you is part by the SPACE TELESCOPE SCIENCE INSTITUTE IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND. 
 
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