                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                2025 July 16
      A deep image of the Rosette Nebula is shown along with a field of
     stars. As many color filters were used, the flowery nebula takes on
   many colors with blue in the center, yellow and orange around the blue,
       and red around the outside. Please see the explanation for more
                            detailed information.

                        The Rosette Nebula from DECam
    Image Credit: CTIO, NOIRLab, DOE, NSF, AURA; Processing: T. A. Rector
       (U. Alaska Anchorage), D. de Martin (NSF’s NOIRLab) & M. Zamani

   Explanation: Would the Rosette Nebula by any other name look as sweet?
   The bland New General Catalog designation of NGC 2237 doesn't appear to
   diminish the appearance of this flowery emission nebula, as captured by
   the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) on the Blanco 4-meter telescope at the
   NSF's Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile. Inside the
   nebula lies an open cluster of bright young stars designated NGC 2244.
   These stars formed about four million years ago from the nebular
   material and their stellar winds are clearing a hole in the nebula's
   center, insulated by a layer of dust and hot gas. Ultraviolet light
   from the hot cluster stars causes the surrounding nebula to glow. The
   Rosette Nebula spans about 100 light-years across, lies about 5000
   light-years away, and can be seen with a small telescope towards the
   constellation of the Unicorn (Monoceros).

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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
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