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Credit & Copyright: Dieter Willasch
(Astro-Cabinet)
Explanation:
What's happening in the center of the Carina Nebula?
Stars are forming, dying, and leaving an
impressive tapestry of dark dusty filaments.
The entire
Carina Nebula, cataloged
as NGC 3372, spans over 300
light years
and lies about 8,500 light-years away in the
constellation of Carina.
The nebula is composed predominantly of
hydrogen gas, which
emits the pervasive red glow
seen in this
highly
detailed featured image.
The blue glow in the center is created by a trace amount of glowing
oxygen.
Young and massive stars located in the nebula's center
expel dust when they explode in supernovae.
Eta Carinae, the most energetic
star in the nebula's center,
was one of the brightest stars in the sky in the 1830s, but then
faded dramatically.
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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: NGC 3372 - carina nebula
Publications with words: NGC 3372 - carina nebula
See also: