In the Heart of the Tarantula Nebula
Explanation:
In the heart of monstrous
Tarantula Nebula
lies one of the most unusual star clusters.
Known as
NGC 2070 or R136,
it is home to a great number of hot young stars.
The energetic light from these stars continually ionizes nebula gas,
while their energetic particle
wind blows bubbles and defines intricate filaments.
The
above representative-color picture of this great
LMC cluster details
its tumultuous center in gas,
dust and young stars.
The
30 Doradus nebula is one of the largest
star-formation regions known, and has been creating
unusually strong episodes of star formation
every few million years.
In the heart of this heart is a
central knot of stars
that is so dense it was once thought to be a single star.
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.
