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Credit & Copyright: Kfir Simon
Explanation:
Fantastic shapes
lurk in clouds of glowing hydrogen gas in
NGC 6188, about 4,000 light-years away.
The emission nebula is found near the edge of a
large molecular cloud unseen at visible wavelengths, in the southern
constellation
Ara.
Massive, young
stars of the embedded Ara
OB1 association
were formed in that region only a few million years ago,
sculpting the dark shapes and
powering the nebular glow with
stellar winds and intense ultraviolet radiation.
The recent
star
formation itself was likely triggered by
winds and supernova explosions, from previous generations of massive
stars, that swept up and compressed the molecular gas.
Joining NGC 6188 on
this
cosmic canvas
is rare emission nebula NGC 6164,
also created by one of the region's massive O-type stars.
Similar in appearance to many
planetary nebulae, NGC 6164's striking,
symmetric gaseous shroud and faint halo surround
its bright central star at the lower right.
The field of view spans about two full Moons, corresponding to
70 light years at the estimated distance
of NGC 6188.
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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: OB association - star formation
Publications with words: OB association - star formation
See also:
- NGC 1893 and the Tadpoles of IC 410
- Star Factory Messier 17
- APOD: 2023 August 28 Á Star Formation in the Pacman Nebula
- APOD: 2023 July 10 Á Stars, Dust and Nebula in NGC 6559
- NGC 1333: Stellar Nursery in Perseus
- APOD: 2023 March 21 Á Dark Nebulae and Star Formation in Taurus
- The Tadpole Nebula in Gas and Dust