Happy Diwali 2024: As people across the world light up their homes for Diwali, NASA joined the celebrations with a breathtaking image of one of the Milky Way's most spectacular star-forming regions, the Omega Nebula, or M17. Located approximately 5,500 light-years away in the constellation Sagittarius, this nebula is one of the largest and most active nurseries for young stars in our galaxy.
The image, captured by the Hubble Space Telescope, showcases a central portion of the nebula in vibrant colour, each hue revealing specific elements. Green represents oxygen, while red marks hydrogen and infrared light, giving the nebula a fiery appearance that echoes the spirit of Diwali, a festival of lights.
The Omega Nebula, also known as the Swan Nebula, was first discovered in 1745 by Swiss astronomer Jean-Philippe Loys de Chéseaux. It shines at an apparent magnitude of 6, making it visible with binoculars on clear nights, particularly in August when it can be observed near neighboring nebulae M16 and M18.
Beyond its beauty, M17 holds secrets of stellar evolution. The nebula harbours one of the Milky Way’s youngest star clusters, estimated to be only a million years old. However, many of these nascent stars remain hidden by clouds of gas and dust. This dense matter, sculpted by the radiation of young stars, forms intricate dark structures within the nebula. One such gas pocket at the nebula's brightest region is over ten times the size of our solar system, adding to the nebula's awe-inspiring scale.
Earlier, NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, currently aborad the International Space Station (ISS), shared Diwali greetings in a video message, expressing warm wishes to those celebrating worldwide. Her message, played during the White House Diwali event, thanked President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for honouring the Indian-American community’s contributions. Williams reflected on her father’s efforts to teach her about Indian festivals, including Diwali, and highlighted the festival’s themes of hope and renewal as she celebrated from 260 miles above Earth.
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