Starbirth in the Trifid Nebula
Explanation:
Tremendous pillars of gas and dust are being
boiled away in the
Trifid Nebula.
In the center of the picturesque
Trifid lies a young hot star, located
above and to the right of
this picture.
As soon as it was born, the massive star
scorched its surroundings with bright and energetic light.
Nearby stars trying to form ended up starved for
gas as it was
swept away
from them by the bright star's light and wind.
Lower mass stars should continue to form in the
Trifid Nebula, as
over 1500 times the mass of
our Sun
still exists in uncondensed gas.
Also known as
M20, the
Trifid Nebula is about 9000 light years away and
easily visible
with a small telescope in the constellation of
Sagittarius.
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.
