Abu Dhabi observatory captures image of distant "Lion Nebula"

ABU DHABI, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Al Khatim Astronomical Observatory in Abu Dhabi has captured an image of the distant "Lion Nebula," a vast region of ionized gas and dust located about 10,000 light-years from Earth, UAE local media Gulf News reported on Tuesday.

Situated in the constellation Cepheus, the Lion Nebula spans roughly 270 light-years across and is named for its lion-like shape.

Using special optical filters to reduce light pollution, astronomers at the observatory enhanced the visibility of faint structures, producing one of the most detailed portraits of the deep-space formation ever captured from the UAE.

The image, produced following a 32-hour observation session, reveals intricate details of the nebula's glowing clouds, shaped by ultraviolet light from two massive stars roughly 20 times the mass of the Sun.

According to the report, the red and blue hues in the image result from hydrogen and oxygen atoms that have been ionized by stellar radiation. Enditem