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Credit & Copyright: Donald P. Waid
(Waid Observatory)
Explanation:
Star cluster NGC 6823 is slowly turning gas clouds into stars.
The center of the open cluster, visible on the upper right,
formed only about two million years ago and is
dominated in brightness by a host of
bright young blue stars.
Some outer parts of the cluster, visible in the
featured image's center
as the stars and pillars of
emission nebula
NGC 6820, contain even younger stars.
The huge pillars of gas and
dust likely get their elongated shape by
erosion from hot radiation emitted from the
brightest cluster stars.
Striking dark globules
of gas and dust are also visible across the upper left of the
featured image.
Open star cluster
NGC 6823 spans
about 50 light years and lies about 6000
light years away toward the
constellation
of the Fox (Vulpecula).
APOD Wall Calendar:
Nebulas and Star Clusters
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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: star formation
Publications with words: star formation
See also: