14 DAY TRIAL // A newly-released image collected by the NASA Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) telescope shows the little-known Trifid Nebula in exquisite detail. Its massive molecular hydrogen clouds, which produce young, blue stars at a frantic pace, can be clearly seen scattered throughout this view.
The nebula glows due to the fact that the massive volumes of gas it contains are irradiated by large amounts of ultraviolet radiations from the young stars. These objects cannot be seen because they are still obscured inside their cocoons of dust and gas. Most of the new stars are formed in the yellow-and-orange structure dominating this image.
The Trifid Nebula got its name from the yellow bars that appear to separate its bulk into three distinct parts. In this particular photo, the various colors apparent are each associated with a particular infrared wavelength. The nebula is located about 5,400 light-years away, in the constellation Sagittarius.
Hues of blue denote data collected at a wavelength of 3.4 microns, while cyan was used for 4.6-micron observations. The green colors are associated with light captured at 12 microns, while red hues are at 22 microns. The green and red areas are relatively cooler than the rest of the nebula, and mostly contain dust.