It's a gas

Friday, March 3, 2006

Bob Linderholm of rural Cambridge photographed a celestial gas cloud Feb. 19 at his Lime Creek Observatory. According to the astronomer, "'M42' is presently located due south and up about 45 degrees at midnight. It is a large collection of gas and dust, primarily hydrogen, that is being compressed by gravitational attraction of the atoms. When the compression creates sufficient heat, the nuclear furnace in the center of the mass is ignited and a star is born. The surrounding gas and dust is lighted by the process. The nuclear furnace yields heat and light through the process of fusion (thermonuclear). M42 has been producing stars for a long period of time."

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