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About the Image

Date
2012-04-17
ID
sig12-004
Type
Observation
Credit
X-ray: NASA/CXC/PSU/L.Townsley et al.; Optical: NASA/STScI; Infrared: NASA/JPL/PSU/L.Townsley et al.

About the Object

Name
Tarantula Nebula
Type
Star > Grouping > Cluster
Star > Evolutionary Stage > Young Stellar Object
Nebula > Type > Star Formation
Distance
160,000 Light Years

Color Mapping

Band Wavelength Telescope
X-ray 1.5 keV Chandra ACIS
Infrared 4.5 µm Spitzer IRAC
Infrared 5.8 µm Spitzer IRAC
Infrared 8.0 µm Spitzer IRAC
Optical 775 nm Hubble ACS
Optical 775 nm Hubble WFC3

About the Color Mapping Table

Astrometrics

Position (undefined)
RA = 5h 38m 42.3s
Dec = -69° 6' 2.8"
Field of View
13.2 x 10.6 arcminutes
Orientation
North is 28.5° left of vertical
Constellation
Dorado

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A New View of the Tarantula Nebula

This composite of 30 Doradus, aka the Tarantula Nebula, contains data from Chandra (blue), Hubble (green), and Spitzer (red). Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud, the Tarantula Nebula is one of the largest star-forming regions close to the Milky Way. Chandra's X-rays detect gas that has been heated to millions of degrees by stellar winds and supernovas. This high-energy stellar activity creates shock fronts, which are similar to sonic booms. Hubble reveals the light from massive stars at various stages of star birth, while Spitzer shows where the relatively cooler gas and dust lie.