NGC 6559, also known as the Chinese Dragon or Loreta Nebula, is a complex star-forming region located in the constellation Sagittarius, about 5,000 light-years from Earth. This vibrant nebula showcases a stunning interplay of dark dust lanes, bright emission regions, and reflective patches, creating a vivid cosmic tapestry. The nebula's reddish hues arise from ionized hydrogen gas, while the blue regions are due to starlight reflecting off dust particles. NGC 6559 is an active site of stellar birth, where young, massive stars illuminate the surrounding gas and dust, sculpting the nebula into intricate shapes.

Nearby, NGC 6544 is a globular cluster, also in Sagittarius, situated approximately 8,500 light-years away. This dense collection of ancient stars provides a stark contrast to the younger, more chaotic environment of NGC 6559. Globular clusters like NGC 6544 are among the oldest objects in the galaxy, offering insights into the early history of the Milky Way. Together, the juxtaposition of the star-forming NGC 6559 and the ancient globular cluster NGC 6544 provides a compelling snapshot of different stages of stellar evolution and galactic development.

When stars form, pandemonium reigns. A textbook case is the star forming region NGC 6559. Visible above are red glowing emission nebulas of hydrogen, blue reflection nebulas of dust, dark absorption nebulas of dust, and the stars that formed from them. The first massive stars formed from the dense gas will emit energetic light and winds that erode, fragment, and sculpt their birthplace. And then they explode. The resulting morass can be as beautiful as it is complex. After tens of millions of years, the dust boils away, the gas gets swept away, and all that is left is a naked open cluster of stars.

Taken from SWOS in El Sauce, Chile

24” PlaneWave CDK (LRGBHA)

Copyright: Mark Hanson