Subj : Daily APOD Report
To   : All
From : Alan Ianson
Date : Thu May 18 2023 03:43:10

                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                 2023 May 18

                             WR 134 Ring Nebula
                   Image Credit & Copyright: Craig Stocks

   Explanation: Made with narrowband filters, this cosmic snapshot covers
   a field of view about the size of the full Moon within the boundaries
   of the constellation Cygnus. It highlights the bright edge of a
   ring-like nebula traced by the glow of ionized sulfur, hydrogen, and
   oxygen gas. Embedded in the region's interstellar clouds of gas and
   dust, the complex, glowing arcs are sections of bubbles or shells of
   material swept up by the wind from Wolf-Rayet star WR 134, brightest
   star near the center of the frame. Distance estimates put WR 134 about
   6,000 light-years away, making the frame over 50 light-years across.
   Shedding their outer envelopes in powerful stellar winds, massive
   Wolf-Rayet stars have burned through their nuclear fuel at a prodigious
   rate and end this final phase of massive star evolution in a
   spectacular supernova explosion. The stellar winds and final supernovae
   enrich the interstellar material with heavy elements to be incorporated
   in future generations of stars.

                   Tomorrow's picture: curly spiral galaxy
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