These cosmic clouds have blossomed 1,300 light-years away
in the fertile starfields of the
constellation Cepheus.
Called the Iris Nebula,
NGC 7023
is not the only nebula
to evoke the imagery
of flowers.
Still, this
deep telescopic image
shows off the Iris Nebula's range of colors and symmetries
embedded in surrounding fields of interstellar dust.
Within the Iris itself, dusty nebular material surrounds a hot, young
star.
The dominant color of the brighter reflection nebula is blue,
characteristic of dust grains reflecting starlight.
Central filaments
of the reflection nebula glow with a faint reddish
photoluminescence as some dust grains
effectively convert
the star's invisible ultraviolet radiation to visible red light.
Infrared
observations
indicate that this nebula contains complex carbon molecules known as
PAHs.
The dusty blue petals of the Iris Nebula span about six light-years.