Star Formation in the Tadpole Nebula
Explanation:
Dusty emission in the Tadpole nebula, IC 410,
lies about 12,000 light-years away in the northern constellation
Auriga.
The cloud of glowing gas is over 100 light-years across,
sculpted by
stellar
winds and radiation from embedded
open star cluster
NGC 1893.
Formed in the interstellar cloud
a mere
4 million years ago, bright cluster stars are seen
all around the star-forming nebula.
Notable near the image center are two relatively dense streamers of material trailing
away from the nebula's central regions.
Potentially sites of ongoing star formation in
IC 410, these
cosmic tadpole
shapes are about 10 light-years long.
The
featured image was taken in
infrared light by NASA's Wide Field Infrared Survey Explorer
(
WISE) satellite.
Now Available:
APOD 2015 Wall Calendars
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.
