Telescope spots ‘koi fish’ in ocean of Gum 3 nebula

This image released on June 10, 2024, shows a stunning view of of Gum 3 Nebula 3,600 light-years from Earth. — ESO/VPHAS+ team/CASU

Astronomers have captured a breathtaking picture from 3,600 light-years showing a stunning view of Gum 3 nebula where they spotted a koi fish-like shape taken by the dust and gas of that star-forming area.

The picture was captured from the Paranal Observatory in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile using the European Southern Observatory’s (ESO) VLT Survey Telescope (VST), which presented vibrant colours and a mesmerizing view in the ocean of one of the crucial areas in deep space.

A nebula is an area full of gas and dust that contains material to form stars. That material comes from the stellar remnants when large and massive stars go supernova and reach at the end of their life cycle.

After the material is scattered, gravity pulls all of it again and forms stars and scientists believe that the Gum 3 nebula is one such nursery.

“When the intense ultraviolet radiation from nearby young stars hits hydrogen atoms in the cloud, they emit visible light at very specific colors, which we see as shades of red and pink in the image,” ESO officials said in the statement.

“At the same time, tiny particles of dust within the cloud reflect starlight, especially blue colors, similar to what makes the sky look blue here on Earth,” the officials said adding “This play of colors makes nebulae like this spectacular to look at.”

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