Trifid Nebula facts for kids
The Trifid Nebula is a beautiful cloud of gas and dust found in the constellation of Sagittarius. It is a special type of cloud called an emission nebula, which means it glows brightly because of the hot, young stars inside it. The Trifid Nebula is so bright that you can even see it with binoculars from Earth! It is about 5,200 light-years away from us. The nebula gets its name, "Trifid," because it looks like it's split into three parts by dark lines of dust.
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What is the Trifid Nebula?
The Trifid Nebula is a giant cloud in space where new stars are being born. It's known as an H II region, which means it's a big area of hydrogen gas that has been ionized (given an electric charge) by the powerful light from very hot, young stars. This ionized gas then glows, making the nebula visible.
Why is it Called Trifid?
The word "trifid" means "divided into three parts." If you look closely at pictures of the Trifid Nebula, you'll see three dark lines that seem to cut through the bright cloud. These dark lines are actually thick clouds of dust that block the light from behind them. They make the nebula look like it's split into three sections, giving it its unique name.
Seeing the Trifid Nebula
Because the Trifid Nebula is quite bright, it's a popular target for astronomers and stargazers. You can spot it in the night sky using binoculars or a small telescope. It appears as a fuzzy patch of light. With more powerful telescopes, you can see its distinct three-part shape and the glowing gas.
Inside the Nebula: Star Birth
The Trifid Nebula is a very active place. Inside this cosmic cloud, new stars are forming from the collapsing gas and dust. The bright, hot stars that have already formed light up the surrounding gas, making it glow in different colors. The dark dust lanes are also important; they are dense areas where even more stars might be forming, hidden from our view.
Images for kids
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M20 with amateur telescope
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The Trifid Nebula in infrared as seen by the Spitzer Space Telescope. These visible colors show 3.6, 8.0, and 24 micron light
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The Trifid Nebula is a rare combination of three nebulae types that reveal the fury of freshly formed stars and point to more star birth in the future. Credit: ESO
See also
In Spanish: Nebulosa Trífida para niños
