A Close-Up of the Lagoon Nebula
Explanation:
Ribbons of red-glowing
gas and dark
dust surround massive young stars in
this close-up of the
Lagoon Nebula
taken by the
Hubble Space Telescope. The
Lagoon
Nebula is relatively close and bright - it appears larger than the
Full Moon and is visible even without a
telescope. Light takes about 5000
years to reach here from there. The
Lagoon Nebula
houses the
open star cluster
M8.
This
photograph is combination of exposures taken in the red,
green and ultraviolet. The unusual bright central part of the
Lagoon Nebula (lower left in this image)
is known as the Hourglass Nebula.
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.
