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Credit & Copyright: CHART32 Team,
Processing -
Johannes Schedler
Explanation:
Massive stars lie within
NGC 6357, an expansive emission nebula complex
some 6,500 light-years away toward the tail of the constellation
Scorpius.
In fact, positioned near center
in this
ground-based close-up of NGC 6357,
star cluster Pismis 24
includes some of the most massive stars known
in the galaxy, stars with nearly 100 times the mass of the Sun.
The nebula's bright central region also contains dusty pillars of
molecular gas, likely hiding massive protostars from the
prying eyes
of optical instruments.
Intricate shapes in the nebula are carved as interstellar winds
and energetic radiation from the young and newly forming
massive
stars clear out the natal gas and dust and power the nebular
glow.
Enhancing the nebula's cavernous appearance, narrowband image data
was included in this composite color image in a
Hubble palette scheme.
Emission from sulfur, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms is shown in red
green and blue hues.
The alluring telescopic view spans about 50 light-years at
the estimated distance of NGC 6357.
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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: star formation - emission nebula
Publications with words: star formation - emission nebula
See also:
- APOD: 2025 September 19 Á The NGC 6914 Complex
- APOD: 2025 September 10 Á The Great Lacerta Nebula
- APOD: 2025 July 21 Á Cats Paw Nebula from Webb Space Telescope
- APOD: 2025 July 16 Á The Rosette Nebula from DECam
- APOD: 2025 July 10 Á Lynds Dark Nebula 1251
- APOD: 2025 July 5 Á Ou4: The Giant Squid Nebula
- APOD: 2025 June 26 Á The Seagull Nebula