NGC 604: Giant Stellar Nursery in M33
Credit & Copyright: H. Yang (UIUC),
J. Hester (ASU),
NASA
Explanation:
The nebula cataloged as NGC 604 is a giant star forming region,
1500 light years across, in the nearby
spiral galaxy, M33.
Seen here in a snapshot by the Hubble Space Telescope,
over 200 newly formed,
hot, massive, stars are scattered within a cavern-like, gaseous,
interstellar cloud.
The stars irradiate the gas with energetic
ultraviolet light
stripping electrons from atoms
and exciting them - producing a characteristic
nebular glow.
The details of the nebula's structure hold clues to the mysteries of
star formation and its effect on
the evolution of galaxies.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
