Carina Nebula Dust Pillar
Explanation:
This cosmic pillar of gas and dust is nearly two light-years wide.
The structure lies within
one of our galaxy's largest star forming regions,
the Carina Nebula,
shining in
southern skies at a distance of
about 7,500 light-years.
The pillar's convoluted outlines
are shaped by the winds and radiation
of Carina's young, hot, massive stars.
But the interior of the cosmic pillar
itself is home to stars in the process of formation.
In fact, a penetrating
infrared
view shows the pillar
is dominated by two, narrow,
energetic jets blasting outward from a
still hidden infant star.
The above featured
visible light image
was made in 2009 using the Hubble Space Telescope's
Wide Field Camera 3.
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.
