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Credit & Copyright: NASA,
ESA,
N. Smith
(U. California, Berkeley)
et al.,
and The Hubble Heritage Team
(STScI/AURA)
Explanation:
How do violent stars affect their surroundings?
To help find out, astronomers created a 48-frame high-resolution,
controlled-color panorama of the center of the
Carina Nebula,
one of the largest star forming regions on the night sky.
The featured image, taken in 2007,
was the most detailed image of the Carina Nebula yet taken.
Cataloged as NGC 3372, the
Carina Nebula is home to
streams of hot gas, pools of cool gas, knots of dark globules, and pillars of dense
dusty interstellar matter.
The Keyhole Nebula,
visible left of center, houses several of the most
massive stars known.
These large and
violent stars likely formed in dark globules and continually
reshape the nebula with their
energetic light, outflowing
stellar winds,
and ultimately by ending their lives in
supernova explosions.
Visible to the unaided eye, the
entire Carina Nebula spans over 450
light years and lies about 8,500 light-years
away toward the constellation of Ship's Keel
(Carina).
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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: NGC 3372 - carina nebula
Publications with words: NGC 3372 - carina nebula
See also: