NGC 604: Giant Stellar Nursery . ... Credit Copyright: H. Yang ( UIUC ), HST , NASA Explanation: Scattered within this cavernous nebula , cataloged as NGC 604, are over 200 newly formed hot, massive, stars. At 1,500 light-years across, this expansive cloud of interstellar gas and dust is effectively a giant stellar nursery located some three million light-years distant in the spiral galaxy, M33 . ... NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers . NASA Official: Jay Norris. ...