What is this?

• by atanauli

  Posted May 27, 2014 10:27 AM

• by JeanTate

  Are you familiar with the Australian wattle tree? Well, this is the blossoms from that tree, somehow blown into deep space and expanded enormously! 😮

  No, of course I'm kidding; these are stars in our own galaxy, but the SDSS telescope and camera had a hangover weren't working very well (perhaps the sky was unsteady, or the camera slightly out of focus, or ...), making this a #poorqualityimage

  Posted May 27, 2014 10:44 AM

• by atanauli

  I like the Australian Wattle tree explanation better. Thanks for posting.

  Posted May 28, 2014 12:46 PM

• by JeanTate in response to atanauli's comment.

  You're most welcome! 😃

  With the help of a search engine, I discovered that Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha) is the "floral emblem of Australia" 😮

  Here's an image (source, Australian National Herbarium):

  

  Posted May 28, 2014 1:32 PM