The N44 Emission Nebula
Explanation:
N44 is one of the largest and most intricate nebulas in this part of the universe.
Located in our galactic neighbor the
Large Magellanic Cloud,
N44 houses numerous massive bright stars, lengthy lanes of dark
dust,
and vast clouds of
hydrogen
gas that glows red.
The red color of the N44
emission nebula
comes from pervasive hydrogen atoms re-acquiring
electrons
that were knocked away by
energetic light
from massive stars.
The central stars also appear to have somehow created the
huge superbubble visible in the lower left.
N44,
pictured above, spans about 1,000
light years
and lies about 170,000 light years distant.
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.
