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Monoceros

Monoceros is a faint constellation on the celestial equator, introduced in the 17th century by the Dutch cartographer Petrus Plancius. Its name means 'unicorn' in Greek, and it lies near prominent constellations such as Orion and Canis Major.

Source: britannica.com

APODs including "Monoceros"

Dust Sculptures in the Rosette Nebula

06/06/2007

Dust Sculptures in the Rosette Nebula
Image Credit: Ignacio de la Cueva Torregrosa / NASA APOD

What creates the cosmic dust sculptures in the Rosette Nebula? Noted for the common beauty of its overall shape, parts of the Rosette Nebula, also known as NGC 2244, show beauty even when viewed up close. Visible above are globules of dark dust and gas that are slowly being eroded away by the energetic light and winds by nearby massive stars. Left alone long enough, the molecular-cloud globules would likely form stars and planets. The above image was taken in very specific colors of Sulfur (shaded red), Hydrogen (green), and Oxygen (blue). The Rosette Nebula spans about 50 light-years across, lies about 4,500 light-years away, and can be seen with a small telescope towards the constellation of the Unicorn (Monoceros).