NGC 604: Giant Stellar Nursery
Explanation:
Scattered within
this cavernous nebula, cataloged as NGC 604,
are over 200 newly formed hot, massive, stars.
At 1,500 light-years across, this expansive cloud of interstellar gas
and dust is effectively a giant
stellar nursery located some three million light-years distant in
the spiral galaxy, M33.
The newborn stars irradiate the gas with
energetic ultraviolet light
stripping electrons from atoms and producing a
characteristic
nebular glow.
The
details of the nebula's structure hold
clues to the mysteries of star formation and galaxy evolution.
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.
