Astronomy Picture of the Day: The Tarantula Nebula
The Tarantula Nebula The Tarantula Nebula , also known as 30 Doradus, is more than a thousand light-years in diameter, a giant star forming region within nearby satellite galaxy the Large Magellanic Cloud . About 180 thousand light-years away, it's the largest, most violent star forming region known in the whole Local Group of galaxies. The cosmic arachnid sprawls across this spectacular view, composed with narrowband filter data centered on emission from ionized hydrogen atoms. Within the Tarantula (NGC 2070), intense radiation, stellar winds and supernova shocks from the central young cluster of massive stars, cataloged as R136 , energize the nebular glow and shape the spidery filaments. Around the Tarantula are other star forming regions with y oung star clusters, filaments, and blown-out bubble-shaped clouds. In fact, the frame includes the site of the closest supernova in mo...