Christmas Tree Nebula Shines for the Season

Season's greetings! The Cone and Christmas Tree nebulae glow merrily in this lovely view submitted to National Geographic's Your Shot on December 17.

Hydrogen gas lit by a bright star inside the nebula explains the ruddy glow of the Christmas Tree Nebula.

Roughly 2,700 light-years away, the Cone Nebula (on the left) poses a bit of a puzzle to astronomers. They suspect that a powerful stellar wind from a compact star at the tip of the cone explains its shape.

—Dan Vergano

Photograph by Fred Herrmann, National Geographic Your Shot

Week's Best New Space Pictures: Christmas Lights and Vermont Nights

Starry sights and wintry nights shine in the week's top space pictures.

Published December 21, 2013

Week's Best New Space Pictures: Christmas Lights and Vermont Nights

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