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Spitzer Space Telescope

The Spitzer Space Telescope was an infrared space observatory launched by NASA in 2003, which operated until 2020, providing insights into the early universe, exoplanets, and more.

Source: jpl.nasa.gov

APODs including "Spitzer Space Telescope"

The Tarantula Nebula from Spitzer

02/02/2004

The Tarantula Nebula from Spitzer
Image Credit: NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day

In the heart of monstrous Tarantula Nebula lies one of the most unusual star clusters. Known as NGC 2070 or R136, it is home to a great number of hot young stars. The energetic light from these stars continually ionizes nebula gas, while their energetic particle wind blows bubbles and defines intricate filaments. The new Spitzer Space Telescope took the above representative-color infrared image of this great LMC cluster. The image details the cluster's tumultuous center in gas, dust and young stars. The 30 Doradus nebula is one of the largest star-formation regions known, and has been creating unusually strong episodes of star formation every few million years. In the heart of this heart is a central knot of stars that is so dense it was once thought to be a single star.