This image shows an outflow of gas from a new
star as it jets from a space object dubbed IRAS 21078+5211, among other
designations. The reddish blob in its center, as picked up by Spitzer's
4.5 micron infrared band, contrasts nicely with the
green PAHs that surround it. These telltale outflow features of young,
hulking stars show up well even without the longer wavelengths available
to the original GLIMPSE survey that ran during the "cold" segment of
Spitzer's mission. These so-called shocked outflows ram into the
hydrogen gas around them and make it glow - a bright beacon in the
lonely outskirts of the Milky Way. This image is a combination of data
from Spitzer and the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS). The Spitzer data
was taken after Spitzer's liquid coolant ran dry in May 2009, marking
the beginning of its "warm" mission. Light from Spitzer's remaining
infrared channels at 3.6 and 4.5 microns has been represented in green
and red, respectively. 2MASS 2.2 micron light is blue.
ASTROSIGNUM
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