Stars, Dust and Nebula in NGC 6559
Explanation:
When stars form, pandemonium reigns.
A
textbook
case is the star forming region
NGC 6559.
Visible above are red glowing
emission nebulas of
hydrogen, blue
reflection nebulas of
dust, dark
absorption nebulas of dust, and the stars that formed from them.
The first massive stars formed from the dense gas will emit
energetic light and
winds
that erode, fragment, and
sculpt their birthplace.
And then they
explode.
The resulting
morass
can be as beautiful as it is complex.
After tens of millions of years, the dust boils away,
the gas gets swept away, and all that is left is a naked
open cluster of stars.
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.
