Star-forming region NGC 346

NGC 346, the brightest star-forming region in the neighbouring Small Magellanic Cloud galaxy, some 210,000 light-years away from Earth. The light, wind and heat given off by massive stars have dispersed the glowing gas within and around this star cluster, forming a surrounding wispy nebular structure that looks like a cobweb. NGC 346 is located in the constellation Tucana (the Toucan) and spans approximately 200 light-years. This particular image was obtained using the Wide Field Imager instrument at the 2.2-metre MPG/ESO telescope at the La Silla Observatory in Chile. Images like this help astronomers chronicle star birth and evolution, while offering glimpses of how stellar development influences the appearance of the cosmic environment over time. This is an enhanced colour image based on three different broadband filters (B, V, R), as well as a narrowband filter (H-alpha, shown in blue). The field of view is about 30 arcminutes wide.

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ESO

Om bilden

ID:eso1008a
Typ:Observation
Publiceringsdatum:24 februari 2010 12:00
Relaterade pressmeddelanden:eso1008
Storlek:7699 x 7699 px

Om objektet

Namn:NGC 346, Small Magellanic Cloud
Typ:Local Universe : Nebula : Type : Star Formation
Avstånd:200000 ljusår
Constellation:Tucana
Kategori:Nebulae

Bildformat

Stor jpeg
21,1 MB
Skärmstor jpeg
670,9 kB

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2048x1536
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Koordinater

Position (RA):0 59 18.02
Position (Dec):-72° 10' 48.48"
Field of view:30.53 x 30.53 arcminutes
Orientering:Nord är 0.0° vänster om lodrätt

Färger och filter

BandTeleskop
Synligt ljus
H-alpha
MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope
WFI
Synligt ljus
B
MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope
WFI
Synligt ljus
V
MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope
WFI
Synligt ljus
R
MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope
WFI