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Tarantula Nebula

The Tarantula Nebula (also known as NGC 2070 or 30 Doradus) is the largest and most active star-forming region in the Local Group, located in the Large Magellanic Cloud about 160,000–170,000 light‑years away. Spanning roughly 600 light‑years, it hosts massive young star clusters like R136, contains some of the most massive stars known (up to ~200 M☉), and is shaped by intense radiation, stellar winds, and supernovae.

Source: science.nasa.gov

APODs including "Tarantula Nebula"

Shell Game in the LMC

18/05/2006

Shell Game in the LMC
Image Credit: John P. Gleason / NASA APOD

An alluring sight in dark southern skies, the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) is seen here through a narrow filter that transmits only the red light of hydrogen atoms. Ionized by energetic starlight, a hydrogen atom emits the characteristic red H-alpha light as its single electron is recaptured and transitions to lower energy states. As a result, this image of the LMC seems covered with shell-shaped clouds of hydrogen gas surrounding massive, young stars. Sculpted by the strong stellar winds and ultraviolet radiation, the glowing hydrogen clouds are known as H II (ionized hydrogen) regions. This high resolution mosaic view was recorded in 6 segments, each with 200 minutes of exposure time. Itself composed of many overlapping shells, the Tarantula Nebula, is the large star forming region near top center. A satellite of our Milky Way Galaxy, the LMC is about 15,000 light-years across and lies a mere 180,000 light-years away in the constellation Dorado.