14. Bok Globules in Star-Forming Region NGC 281
Dense knots of dust and gas, called "Bok globules," hold the elements responsible for the formation of stars. These knots, located in the Milky Way, are about 9,500 (57 trillion miles) light-years from Earth
Dense knots of dust and gas, called "Bok globules," hold the elements responsible for the formation of stars. These knots, located in the Milky Way, are about 9,500 (57 trillion miles) light-years from Earth
15. Spiral Galaxy NGC 1309
This pinwheel-shaped spiral galaxy was home to a supernova whose light reached Earth in 2002. Scientists are using the supernova burst to measure the expansion rate of the universe.
This pinwheel-shaped spiral galaxy was home to a supernova whose light reached Earth in 2002. Scientists are using the supernova burst to measure the expansion rate of the universe.
16. The Cone Nebula NGC 2264
Radiation from hot stars off the top of the picture illuminates and erodes this giant, gaseous pillar. Additional ultraviolet radiation causes the gas to glow, giving the pillar its red halo of light
Radiation from hot stars off the top of the picture illuminates and erodes this giant, gaseous pillar. Additional ultraviolet radiation causes the gas to glow, giving the pillar its red halo of light
17. Stars in Scorpius
The small open star cluster Pismis 24 lies in the core of the large emission nebula NGC 6357 in Scorpius, about 8,000 light-years (48,000 trillion miles) away from Earth. Some of the stars in this cluster are extremely massive and emit intense ultraviolet radiation. The brightest object in the picture is designated Pismis 24-1. It was once thought to weigh as much as 200 to 300 solar masses (1 solar mass = our Sun). This would not only have made it by far the most massive known star in the galaxy, but would have put it considerably above the currently believed upper mass limit of about 150 solar masses for individual stars. However, high-resolution Hubble Space Telescope images of the star show that it is really two stars orbiting one another. They are estimated to each be 100 solar masses.
The small open star cluster Pismis 24 lies in the core of the large emission nebula NGC 6357 in Scorpius, about 8,000 light-years (48,000 trillion miles) away from Earth. Some of the stars in this cluster are extremely massive and emit intense ultraviolet radiation. The brightest object in the picture is designated Pismis 24-1. It was once thought to weigh as much as 200 to 300 solar masses (1 solar mass = our Sun). This would not only have made it by far the most massive known star in the galaxy, but would have put it considerably above the currently believed upper mass limit of about 150 solar masses for individual stars. However, high-resolution Hubble Space Telescope images of the star show that it is really two stars orbiting one another. They are estimated to each be 100 solar masses.
18. Jewel Box
Thousands of sparkling young stars are nestled within the giant nebula NGC 3603, a stellar "jewel box" that is one of the most massive young star clusters in the Milky Way galaxy. NGC 3603 is a prominent star forming region in the
galaxy’s Carina spiral arm, about 20,000 light-years(120,000 trillion miles)away. This image spans roughly 17 light-years (102 trillion miles)
Thousands of sparkling young stars are nestled within the giant nebula NGC 3603, a stellar "jewel box" that is one of the most massive young star clusters in the Milky Way galaxy. NGC 3603 is a prominent star forming region in the
galaxy’s Carina spiral arm, about 20,000 light-years(120,000 trillion miles)away. This image spans roughly 17 light-years (102 trillion miles)
19. & 19.1 Spiral Galaxy M101
This giant spiral disk of stars, dust and gas is 170,000 light-years (1,020,000 trillion miles) across, almost twice the diameter of our Milky Way galaxy. M101 is estimated to contain at least one trillion stars. It is estimated that a 100 billion stars in M101 are similar in size to our Sun
This giant spiral disk of stars, dust and gas is 170,000 light-years (1,020,000 trillion miles) across, almost twice the diameter of our Milky Way galaxy. M101 is estimated to contain at least one trillion stars. It is estimated that a 100 billion stars in M101 are similar in size to our Sun