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Credit & Copyright: ACS Science & Engineering Team,
NASA
Explanation:
In the depths of the
dark clouds of
dust and
molecular gas known as the
Omega Nebula, stars continue to form.
The above image from the
Hubble Space Telescope's
newly installed
Advanced Camera for Surveys
shows unprecedented detail in the
famous star-forming region.
The dark dust filaments that lace the center of
Omega Nebula were created in the atmospheres of cool
giant stars and in the debris from
supernova explosions.
The red and blue hues arise from
glowing gas
heated by the radiation of massive nearby stars.
The points of light are the
young stars themselves,
some brighter than 100 Suns.
Dark globules mark even
younger systems, clouds of gas and
dust just now condensing to form stars and planets.
The Omega Nebula lies about 5000 light years away toward the constellation of
Sagittarius.
The region shown spans about 3000 times the diameter of
our Solar System.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Omega nebula - HST
Publications with words: Omega nebula - HST
See also: