|
Explanation: A cosmic bubble of gas and dust, RCW 79 has grown to about 70 light-years in diameter, blown by the winds and radiation from hot young stars. Infrared light from the dust embedded in the nebula is tinted red in this gorgeous false-color view from the Spitzer Space Telescope. A good 17 thousand light-years away in the grand southern constellation Centaurus, the expanding nebula itself has triggered star formation as it plows into the gas and dust surrounding it. In fact, this penetrating infrared picture reveals groups of new stars as yellowish points scattered along the bubble's edge. One remarkable group still lies within its own natal bubble at about 7 o'clock (lower left), while another can be seen near the upper gap at about 3 o'clock (right) from the bubble's center.
|
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 formation - dust - infrared
Publications with words: star formation - dust - infrared
See also:
- APOD: 2025 April 20 Б The Orion Nebula in Visible and Infrared
- APOD: 2025 March 26 Б Star Formation in the Pacman Nebula
- APOD: 2025 February 23 Б Saturn in Infrared from Cassini
- Young Stars, Dark Nebulae
- APOD: 2024 October 22 Б M16: Pillars of Star Creation
- APOD: 2024 September 29 Б Seven Dusty Sisters
- The Dark Seahorse of Cepheus