N81: Starbirth in the SMC
Explanation:
A very young star cluster has been
discovered in a neighboring galaxy.
The stars found in this cluster, dubbed N81,
are so young and massive that they
furiously eject matter and light up the surrounding nebula.
The ejected
stellar winds
combine and interact to sculpt
beautiful and complex structures.
Visible near the center of the
above representative-color picture are two of
N81's brightest stars. Just above them lies a dark knot of
dust
and gas where these massive stars probably originated.
The home galaxy of this stellar nursery is the
Small Magellanic Cloud
(SMC) located about 200,000 light-years away.
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.
