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Credit & Copyright: Don Goldman
Explanation:
Near the outskirts of the
Small Magellanic Cloud,
a satellite galaxy some 200 thousand light-years distant,
lies 5 million year
young
star cluster NGC 602.
Surrounded by natal gas and dust,
NGC 602
is just below center in this
telescopic field of view with the angular size of
the Full Moon on the sky.
The cluster itself is about 200 light-years in diameter.
Glowing interior ridges and swept back shapes strongly suggest that
energetic radiation and shock waves from NGC 602's massive
young stars have eroded the dusty material and triggered a
progression
of star formation moving away from the cluster's center.
Of course, the more extended wings of emission in the
region suggest a popular name for
the complex cosmic environment,
The
Flying Lizard Nebula.
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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 cluster - small Magellanic cloud
Publications with words: star cluster - small Magellanic cloud
See also: