仙后座的幻影
Phantoms in Cassiopeia
來源:Christophe Vergnes|發表日期:2024-10-26
這些輪廓鮮明的流動形狀在宇宙尺度上看起來就像幽靈一樣。透過望遠鏡觀察仙后座,我們可以看到色彩斑斕的天景,其中包括向後掠過的彗星狀雲團 IC 59 (左)和 IC 63 。這兩個雲團距離地球約 600 光年,實際上並不是幽靈。不過,在來自熾熱發光恆星伽馬卡斯的高能輻射影響下,它們正在慢慢消失。伽馬卡斯的實際位置距離星雲只有 3 到 4 光年,就在畫面右邊的上方。IC 63 離伽馬卡斯稍近一些,主要是紅色H-阿爾法光,這是被熾熱恆星紫外線輻射電離的氫原子與電子重新結合後發出的。距離恆星較遠的 IC 59 則較少發出 H-α 光,而更多的是塵埃反射恆星光而產生的特有藍色色調。根據星際幽靈的估計距離,視場跨度超過 1 度或 10 光年。
原文:These brightly outlined flowing shapes look ghostly on a cosmic scale. A telescopic view toward the constellation Cassiopeia, the colorful skyscape features the swept-back, comet-shaped clouds IC 59 (left) and IC 63. About 600 light-years distant, the clouds aren't actually ghosts. They are slowly disappearing though, under the influence of energetic radiation from hot, luminous star gamma Cas. Gamma Cas is physically located only 3 to 4 light-years from the nebulae and lies just above the right edge of the frame. Slightly closer to gamma Cas, IC 63 is dominated by red H-alpha light emitted as hydrogen atoms ionized by the hot star's ultraviolet radiation recombine with electrons. Farther from the star, IC 59 shows less H-alpha emission but more of the characteristic blue tint of dust reflected star light. The field of view spans over 1 degree or 10 light-years at the estimated distance of the interstellar apparitions.
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