蜘蛛星云的国度

2020年11月13日

The Tarantula Zone
Image Credit & Copyright: Ignacio Diaz Bobillo

Explanation: The Tarantula Nebula, also known as 30 Doradus, is more than a thousand light-years in diameter, a giant star forming region within nearby satellite galaxy the Large Magellanic Cloud. About 180 thousand light-years away, it’s the largest, most violent star forming region known in the whole Local Group of galaxies. The cosmic arachnid sprawls across the top of this spectacular view, composed with narrowband filter data centered on emission from ionized hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Within the Tarantula (NGC 2070), intense radiation, stellar winds and supernova shocks from the central young cluster of massive stars, cataloged as R136, energize the nebular glow and shape the spidery filaments. Around the Tarantula are other star forming regions with young star clusters, filaments, and blown-out bubble-shaped clouds. In fact, the frame includes the site of the closest supernova in modern times, SN 1987A, right of center. The rich field of view spans about 2 degrees or 4 full moons, in the southern constellation Dorado. But were the Tarantula Nebula closer, say 1,500 light-years distant like the local star forming Orion Nebula, it would take up half the sky.

Tomorrow’s picture: light-weekend

蜘蛛星云的国度
影像提供与版权: Ignacio Diaz Bobillo

说明: 跨幅1,000多光年、亦名为剑鱼座30的蜘蛛星云，是大麦哲伦星系内的庞大恒星形成区。这团约18万光年远的星云，是本星系群里最大及最活跃的恒星形成区。在这张透过窄波段电离氢和氧辐射滤镜拍摄的精采影像里，这只宇宙级的节肢动物盘据在顶端。在蜘蛛星云(NGC 2070)之内，强烈的辐射、恒星风及中心年轻大质量恒星团R136的超新星爆炸震波，除了激发星云发出辉光之外，也雕塑出酷似蛛脚的丝状云气。蜘蛛星云周围的其他活跃的恒星形成区，通常也拥有年轻星团、云气丝和泡泡状云气等结构。在这幅影像中，离我们最近的现代超新星SN 1987A，发生在影像中心偏右的位置。这片忙碌的视野，呈现南天的剑鱼座方向约2度（4个满月）的天区。如果蜘蛛星云近一点，例如距离和邻近恒星形成区─猎户大星云相似，只有1,500光年的话，那它会遮掉半个天空。

明日的图片: light-weekend