Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Star Cluster R136 Bursts Out

NASA ^ | July 29, 2012 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: In the center of star-forming region 30 Doradus lies a huge cluster of the largest, hottest, most massive stars known. These stars, known collectively as star cluster R136, were captured above in visible light by the Wide Field Camera peering through the refurbished Hubble Space Telescope. Gas and dust clouds in 30 Doradus, also known as the Tarantula Nebula, have been sculpted into elongated shapes by powerful winds and ultraviolet radiation from these hot cluster stars. The 30 Doradus Nebula lies within a neighboring galaxy known as the Large Magellanic Cloud and is located a mere 170,000 light-years away.

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit: NASA, ESA, & F. Paresce (INAF-IASF), R. O'Connell (U. Virginia), & the HST WFC3 Science Oversight Committee ]

[SunkenCiv]

Sorry, I forgot to do this yesterday.

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[blueunicorn6]

Blue cheese crumbles on a roasted chicken salad.

[BatGuano]

Truly awesome! We get excited about mere fireworks and yet, if not for the Hubble images, we are totally unaware of the true fireworks occurring in our universe.

Thanks for the picture and link.

[TheOldLady]

I see a horse talking to a duck in the upper right quadrant.

Sigh... Fred, what do you see?

Calling Dr. Rorschach...

That is also a spectacularly beautiful picture, Mr. Civilizations.

[bigheadfred]

Let's try something easier. Over here.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2912556/posts?page=14#14

[gonzo]

Wow! Thanks ................................. FRegards