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> Around the Tarantula nebula in the Large Magellanic Cloud

Around the Tarantula nebula in the Large Magellanic Cloud

author: R.Gendler/Novapix

reference: a-neb20-70014

Image Size 300 DPI: 42 * 31 cm

Known as the Tarantula Nebula for its spidery appearance, the 30 Doradus complex is a huge stellar factory. It is the largest emission nebula in the sky, and can be seen far down in the southern sky at a distance of about 170,000 light-years, in the southern constellation Dorado. It is part of one of the Milky Way's neighbouring galaxies, the Large Magellanic Cloud. The Tarantula Nebula is thought to contain more than half a million times the mass of the Sun in gas and this vast, blazing labyrinth hosts some of the most massive stars known. Surrounding this nebula is a huge and much fainter series of interlocking bubbles and shells of gas and dust blow away from the center of activity by intense stellar winds and supernova explosions.
14 Panel Mosaic, Total Exposure 70 Hours with a
14.5" telescope.

Keywords for this photo:

2007 - 30 DORADUS - ASTRONOMY - DIFFUSE NEBULA - DORADO - LARGE MAGELLANIC CLOUD - NEBULA - NGC 2070 - SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE - STAR - STAR CLUSTER - STAR FORMATION - TARENTULA - YOUNG STAR -