Stellar Laboratories in the LMC
Explanation:
Stars are evolving in the Large Magellanic Clouds (LMC).
This is particularly evident in the
above close-up of the
LMC's edge,
which appears about as large as the full moon.
Visible only in the
southern hemisphere, the
LMC
is one of the closest galaxies to our own
Milky Way Galaxy
at only 175,000 light years away. The
LMC is one of only
five galaxies visible to the unaided eye.
The red bubbles are gas clouds dominated by
dust and
young stars which are
continually forming.
The green bubbles are clouds left over from relatively recent
supernova explosions of massive stars.
Astronomers are still unsure of many details in the tortured history of this
irregular galaxy.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
