|
Credit & Copyright: X-ray: NASA/CXC/PSU/L. Townsley et al; Optical: UKIRT;
Infrared: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Explanation:
For reasons unknown, NGC 6357 is forming some of the most massive stars ever discovered.
This complex wonderland of star formation consists
of numerous filaments of dust and gas surrounding huge cavities of
massive star clusters.
The intricate patterns are caused by complex interactions between interstellar
winds, radiation pressures,
magnetic fields, and gravity.
The featured image includes
not only visible light taken by the
UKIRT Telescope in Hawaii (blue) as part
of the
SuperCosmos Sky Surveys,
but infrared light from
NASA's orbiting
Spitzer Space Telescope (orange) and
X-ray light from
NASA's orbiting
Chandra X-ray Observatory (pink).
NGC 6357 spans about 100
light years and lies about 5,500 light years away toward the
constellation of the Scorpion.
Within 10 million years, the most massive stars currently seen in NGC 6357
will have exploded.
|
January February March April May June July August September October November December |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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: star cluster - star formation
Publications with words: star cluster - star formation
See also: