The glowing gas cloud LHA 120-N55 in the Large Magellanic Cloud
In this image from ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT), light from blazing blue stars energises the gas left over from the stars’ recent formation. The result is a strikingly colourful emission nebula, called LHA 120-N55, in which the stars are adorned with a mantle of glowing gas. Astronomers study these beautiful displays to learn about the conditions in places where new stars develop.
Credit:ESO
About the Image
| Id: | eso1616a |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | 18 May 2016, 12:00 |
| Related releases: | eso1616 |
| Size: | 1694 x 1776 px |
About the Object
| Name: | LHA 120-N 55 |
| Type: | Local Universe : Nebula : Type : Star Formation |
| Distance: | 160000 light years |
| Constellation: | Dorado |
| Category: | Nebulae |
Coordinates
| Position (RA): | 5 32 18.29 |
| Position (Dec): | -66° 26' 15.73" |
| Field of view: | 7.12 x 7.46 arcminutes |
| Orientation: | North is 0.0° left of vertical |
View in WorldWide Telescope:
Colours & filters
| Band | Telescope |
|---|---|
| Optical B | Very Large Telescope FORS2 |
| Optical V | Very Large Telescope FORS2 |
| Optical Ha | Very Large Telescope FORS2 |
| Optical R | Very Large Telescope FORS2 |