NGC 1579

NGC 1579 is a diffuse nebula visible in the constellation of Perseus. Due to its shape and color, some call this nebula the "Northern Trifid," due to its resemblance to the Trifid Nebula, M20, also in this volume of Nebulae. It is approximately 3 light years across and some 2100 light years from Earth. This nebula mixes emission and reflection gas clouds as well as huge amounts of dust, which tend to almost swallow the energizing stars at its core.