Dueling Dragons Nebula: Danville Photo Of The Day

DANVILLE, CA — It’s been a rainy month in Danville, but that’s not stopping astrophotographer Bob Schiff (who was just profiled in the Mercury News) from sending us awesome celestial images.

Schiff subscribes to a service called Telescope Live that allows users to rent time on telescopes at observatories around the world, then download and print images they gather. Schiff downloaded narrowband data from a telescope atop a 5,000-foot mountain in Chile to bring us this emission nebula known as the Fighting Dragons of Ara.

“It is home to hot, newborn stars and is located 4,000 light-years away in the southern constellation Ara. Given its appearance and name - Fighting Dragons of Ara - it's an appropriate nebula for this year's Lunar New Year - the Year of the Dragon. I think you will agree, the nebula really does look like dueling dragons,” he wrote.

Thanks as always, Bob!

If you have images of life in Danville, or beamed to Danville from 4,000 light years ago via a Chile mountaintop, or anywhere else, email michael.wittner@patch.com.

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