Astronomers thought they knew this famous nebula. Then they saw it in high-def.

Apr 30 2024 by Mashable

 

A favorite celestial target is getting the James Webb Space Telescope treatment.

The Horsehead Nebula, a cosmic masterpiece about 1,300 light-years away from Earth in space, got its name from a portion looking like a seahorse in profile, buoyed by thick waves of gas and dust. Actually, it's a bit of a Rorschach test: The sign of a true nerd is if you see a knight chess piece.

Other telescopes have snapped detailed photos of this object before. But now infrared cameras on the Webb...

Continue Reading Astronomers thought they knew this famous nebula. Then they saw it in high-def.