R2 APODs #3

SN 1006 Supernova remnant A new star, likely the brightest supernova in recorded human history, lit up earth’s sky in the year 1006 AD. The expanding debris cloud from the stellar explosion, found in the southerly constellation of lupus, still puts on a cosmic light show across the electromagnetic spectrum. 11/3

The Map of Dione This cylindrical projection global map of one of Saturn's midsized icy moons was constructed using 10 years of image data from the Cassini spacecraft. Dione is about 1,120 kilometers across. E-ring material on the surface is constantly replenished by geysers on moon Enceladus' south pole. Lighter, younger surface fractures also appear to cross the dark, cratered trailing hemisphere. 11/7

NGC 7023 The Iris Nebula This is not the only nebula in the sky to evoke the imagery of flowers. Within the Iris, dusty nebular material surrounds a hot, young star The dominant color of the brighter reflection nebula is blue, characteristic of dust grains reflecting starlight. Infrared observations indicate that this nebula may contain complex carbon molecules known as PAHs. 11/12

NGC 6302 Butterfly Nebula Wingspan of over 3 light years Estimated surface temperature of 250,000 degrees c dying star's nebula was recorded in 2009 by the Hubble Space Telescope's Wide Field Camera 3 Molecular hydrogen has been detected in the hot star's dusty cosmic shroud 11/14

Skylab Skylab was an orbiting laboratory launched by a Saturn V rocket in Skylab was visited 3 times by NASA astronauts who stayed as long as two and a half months. Many scientific tests were performed on Skylab Some of these observations have given info about Comet Kohoutek, our Sun and mysterious X-ray background- radiation from all over the sky. Skylab fell back to earth on July 11, /17