 |
Астронет: Астрономическая картинка дня NGC 206 и звездные облака Андромеды http://variable-stars.ru/db/msg/1945746/eng |
Credit & Copyright: Roberto Marinoni
Explanation:
The large stellar association cataloged as
NGC 206 is
nestled within the dusty arms of the neighboring
Andromeda galaxy
along with the galaxy's pinkish star-forming regions.
Also known as M31,
the
spiral galaxy is a mere
2.5 million light-years away.
NGC 206 is found at the center of
this sharp and detailed close-up
of the southwestern extent of
Andromeda's disk.
The bright, blue
stars of
NGC 206
indicate its youth.
In fact, its youngest massive stars are less than 10 million years old.
Much larger than the open or galactic clusters of young stars
in the disk of our Milky Way galaxy,
NGC 206
spans about 4,000 light-years.
That's comparable in size to the giant stellar nurseries
NGC 604 in nearby spiral
M33 and the
Tarantula Nebula
in the Large Magellanic Cloud.
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.