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Credit & Copyright: NASA,
ESA,
Hubble Space Telescope
Explanation:
Like brush strokes on a canvas,
ridges of color seem to
flow
across this scene.
But here, the canvas is nearly 3 light-years wide and
the colors map emission from ionized gas in the Lagoon
Nebula, recorded by the Hubble Space Telescope's
Advanced Camera for Surveys.
Also known as M8, the nebula is a
star forming region
about 5,000 light-years distant in the constellation
Sagittarius.
Hubble's remarkably sharp,
close-up
view reveals undulating
shapes sculpted by the energetic light and winds from the
region's new born stars.
Of course,
the Lagoon nebula is a popular target for earthbound skygazers, too.
It features a prominent dust lane and bright hourglass shape in
small telescopes with wider fields of view.
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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: Lagoon Nebula - M 8 - HST - star formation
Publications with words: Lagoon Nebula - M 8 - HST - star formation
See also: