Picture of the day - March 6, 2005

The Trifid Nebula

Today's striking photo is an infrared image of the Trifid Nebula. When Charles Messier discovered the Trifid Nebula in 1764, the only instruments available for viewing it were rudimentary optical telescopes. The Spitzer Space Telescope changed all of that, enabling astronomers to peer deep inside interstellar clouds and take stunning infrared photos. The detail in this image has given humans a brand new perspective and understanding of the Trifid Nebula and numerous other space objects. Note: This image of the Trifid Nebula was provided by NASA.   Picture Of The Day Homepage Interesting Articles