Astronomy Picture of the Day [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2020 November 13 [2]See Explanation. Clicking on the picture will download the highest resolution version available. The Tarantula Zone Image Credit & [3]Copyright: [4]Ignacio Diaz Bobillo Explanation: [5]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 [6]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 [7]this spectacular view, composed with narrowband filter data centered on emission from ionized hydrogen and oxygen atoms. [8]Within the Tarantula (NGC 2070), intense radiation, stellar winds and supernova shocks from the central young cluster of massive stars, cataloged as [9]R136, energize the nebular glow and shape the spidery filaments. [10]Around the Tarantula are other star forming regions with young star clusters, filaments, and blown-out [11]bubble-shaped clouds. In fact, the frame includes the site of the closest supernova in modern times, [12]SN 1987A, right of center. The rich field of view spans about 2 degrees or 4 full moons, in the southern [13]constellation Dorado. But were the Tarantula Nebula closer, say 1,500 light-years distant like the local star forming [14]Orion Nebula, it would take up half the sky. Tomorrow's picture: light-weekend __________________________________________________________________ [15]< | [16]Archive | [17]Submissions | [18]Index | [19]Search | [20]Calendar | [21]RSS | [22]Education | [23]About APOD | [24]Discuss | [25]> __________________________________________________________________ Authors & editors: [26]Robert Nemiroff ([27]MTU) & [28]Jerry Bonnell ([29]UMCP) NASA Official: Phillip Newman [30]Specific rights apply. [31]NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices A service of: [32]ASD at [33]NASA / [34]GSFC & [35]Michigan Tech. U. References 1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html 2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2011/Tarantula_HOO_final_2_2048.jpg 3. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply 4. http://www.pampaskies.com/gallery3/index.php 5. http://messier.seds.org/xtra/ngc/n2070.html 6. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap171013.html 7. http://www.pampaskies.com/gallery3/Deep-Space-Objects/Tarantula_HOO_final_2_Small 8. http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2012/01/%20image/c/ 9. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap010730.html 10. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/1602/Tarantula-HST-ESO-annotated1800.jpg 11. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap080327.html 12. https://www.eso.org/public/images/eso0708a/ 13. http://www.hawastsoc.org/deepsky/dor/ 14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap151104.html 15. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap201112.html 16. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html 17. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html 18. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html 19. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search 20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html 21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod.rss 22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html 23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html 24. http://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=201113 25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap201114.html 26. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html 27. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/ 28. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html 29. http://www.astro.umd.edu/ 30. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply 31. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html 32. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/ 33. https://www.nasa.gov/ 34. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/ 35. http://www.mtu.edu/