NGC 7822 - The Cosmic Question Mark Nebula - Chuck Novice

Constellation: Cepheus Object type: Emitting nebula Distance: 3,000 light-years Magnitude: 6.5 Fun Facts ! Zoom in on the question mark loop: with NGC 7822, LBN 584 and LBN 588. This nebula contains the star BD+66 1673, the hottest star discovered within 1 kiloparsec of Earth (its surface temperature exceeds 45,000 degrees and its luminosity is 100,000 times that of the Sun). Intense radiation from this star (and others around it) is responsible for the ionization of the gas cloud and hence the colors that make up the nebula. The pillars of collapsing gas we see are nurseries for new stars, and are very similar to the famous “pillars of creation” in the Eagle Nebula (M16).