Iris NebulaDecember 1, 2009--Stars sparkle against a rosy haze in a new closeup picture of the Iris nebula taken with the Hubble Space Telescope.

Although some nebulae are hot enough to generate their own light, cooler nebulae--including Iris--are visible because they scatter and reflect light from nearby stars. These so-called reflection nebulae usually appear blue, but an as yet unidentified chemical gives parts of the Iris nebula a reddish hue.
Image courtesy NASA & ESA

Space: Rosy Haze, Black Hole Jet

A dusty nebula reflects an odd light, orbiting probes reveal forest decline, a black hole "zaps" a galaxy into existence, and more in the week's best space pictures.

Published December 15, 2009