[_ Old Earth _] Double Helix

[strengthened]

Scientists Report an Odd Twist Near Milky Way Center

http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/sta ... twist.html

Read the article.

--

Did you guys see anything anomalous in the image? I thought somebody made a joke and have this photoshopped.

After visiting many links, this image is truly authentic.

http://www.space.com/scienceastrono...dna_nebula.html
http://www.universetoday.com/am/pub...ix.html?1532006.
http://www.scienceagogo.com/news/20...trunc_sys.shtml
http://www.newsroom.ucla.edu/page.asp?RelNum=6903


I have checked many websites to check the authenticity of this image, I am well convinced it's not modified in any way.

I'm not concentrating on the DNA (double helix) Nebula itself, but the surrounding stars. On the bottom right area, you can see a star formation very interesting that caught my eye.

See for yourself and judge:

The round spots surrounding the star are exactly 12. The star itself resembles the Star of David and the 12 round spots can be interpreted as the "12 Tribes of Israel". Very interestingly and conveniently formed.

What's more, The DNA Nebula is conveniently located near the anomaly. So, DNA Nebula+The Star of David+The 12 Tribes of Israel. I've checked other stars, everything is round, but this one, particularly, has 6 points. Very interesting.

Could have someone photoshopped this??

But, then again, for skeptics, I'm sure this is just another "shape in the clouds" thing. But, interesting formation though.


Maybe this is just a lens flare/ray/glare effect. However, this was taken on an infrared telescope. According to NASA:

Quote:

Spitzer is an infrared telescope that is imaging the sky at unprecedented sensitivity and resolution, enabling it to see the double helix nebula clearly.

http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe...yway_twist.html

About Infrared:

Infrared (IR) radiation is electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength longer than that of visible light, but shorter than that of microwave radiation. The name means "below red" (from the Latin infra, "below"), red being the color of visible light of longest wavelength. Infrared radiation spans three orders of magnitude and has wavelengths between approximately 750 nm and 1 mm.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrared

 

[moniker]

It's probably another 'face on mars' incident. If the image persists then I'll be a bit intrigued but for now...

 

[jwu]

D'uh. Take a look at all the other stars on that image. All of them havea corona, and on at least three other particularly bright ones (the two bright ones at the lower third, left and right of the nebula and the one that is half visible near the middle of the bottom) have twelve mini flares around them as well.

The one which is half visible also has three inner flares, which account for a six pointed star again as well.

It's an ordinary lens flare. If there was e.g. a seven pointed star with twelve surrounding smaller flares (not a multiple of the number of inner flares), then that'd be somewhat puzzling and i'd wonder about the type of lens, but twice as many outer flares as inner flares are a common lens flare effect.

PS:
http://i1.tinypic.com/v4nyw0.jpg
I've marked those where i see other 12 outer flares with green circles, and those where i see inner six flares with blue ones. All of the green marked ones also have six inner flares.

However, this was taken on an infrared telescope. According to NASA:


[quote:a216d]Spitzer is an infrared telescope that is imaging the sky at unprecedented sensitivity and resolution, enabling it to see the double helix nebula clear

ly. [/quote:a216d]So what? Infrared is subject to lens flare effects just like any other wavelength is.

 

[Late_Cretaceous]

The flares on that star are called Defraction Spikes, and are caused by the pieces used to hold the secondary mirror in place.

Anyone who has looked through a reflector telecope is familiar with them.

 

[strengthened]

I just hope before they release a photo, they could do some clean up, otherwise, it's difficult to study photos and distinguish what's real and what's not. Any super bright object might be seen wrongly to the amatuer. Since the spitzer is an infrared telescope, I thought I saw something strange that seems to radiate it's heat signature. To the amatuer, he/she will think, "can an camera artifact radiate heat signature as well"?

The Double Helix Nebula might only be a camera artifact that needs some clean up.

Thanks for your reply guys.

 

[jwu]

The Double Helix Nebula might only be a camera artifact that needs some clean up.

Nah, that one seems to be genuine. But considering the size of the universe it's absolutely normal to find strangely formed nebulas somewhere - in fact it'd be unusual if there were no nebulas of unusual form. It's exactly like seeing clouds that are shaped like known objects.