NGC 4214: Star Forming Galaxy
Explanation:
Dazzling displays of star formation abound across the face
of galaxy NGC 4214, a mere 13 million light-years away in
the northern constellation
Canes Venatici.
While this 1997
Hubble Space Telescope image shows the numerous faint,
older stars
of NGC 4214, the most eye-catching features
are the galaxy's bright young star clusters surrounded
by fluorescent gas clouds.
Sculpted
into bubbles and filamentary shapes by
energetic explosions and
stellar winds from massive cluster stars,
the clouds fluoresce in the
intense stellar ultraviolet radiation.
The
colorful spectacle of massive young star forming clusters and
distinguished presence of a fainter, older stellar population
indicate that NGC 4214 has experienced
star formation episodes spanning billions of years.
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.
