Credit & Copyright: Don Goldman,
Macedon Ranges Observatory
Explanation:
A truly giant complex of
emission
nebulae, N44 is about 1,000 light-years across.
It shines in southern skies as a denizen of our neighboring galaxy,
the Large Magellanic Cloud, 170,000
light-years away.
Winds and intense radiation from hot,
young, luminous stars in N44 excite and sculpt filaments
and streamers of the
glowing nebular gas.
But supernovae -
the death explosions of the massive short lived
stars - have also likely contributed to the region's enormous,
blown-out shapes.
The cluster of young stars seen near the center lies in
a superbubble nearly 250 light-years across.
This detailed, false-color view of the
intricate structures
codes emission from hydrogen, oxygen, and sulfur in shades
of blue and green.
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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: LMC - emission nebula
Publications with words: LMC - emission nebula
See also:
- APOD: 2024 April 24 Á Dragons Egg Bipolar Emission Nebula
- APOD: 2024 March 13 Á The Seagull Nebula
- The Tarantula Zone
- APOD: 2024 February 21 Á Seagull Nebula over Pinnacles Peak
- NGC 1893 and the Tadpoles of IC 410
- The Light, the Dark, and the Dusty
- APOD: 2023 December 13 Á Deep Field: The Heart Nebula