Celestial hemisphere:  Southern  ·  Constellation: Dorado (Dor)  ·  Contains:  IC 2145  ·  NGC 2015  ·  NGC 2037  ·  NGC 2042  ·  NGC 2044  ·  NGC 2048  ·  NGC 2050  ·  NGC 2055  ·  NGC 2060  ·  NGC 2069  ·  NGC 2070  ·  NGC 2074  ·  NGC 2077  ·  NGC 2080  ·  NGC 2081  ·  NGC 2085  ·  NGC 2086  ·  NGC 2091  ·  NGC 2092  ·  NGC 2093  ·  NGC 2094  ·  NGC 2100  ·  NGC 2102  ·  NGC 2108  ·  Tarantula nebula
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The Largest Emission Nebula in The Sky, José Joaquín Pérez
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The Largest Emission Nebula in The Sky

Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
The Largest Emission Nebula in The Sky, José Joaquín Pérez
Powered byPixInsight

The Largest Emission Nebula in The Sky

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Description

The largest emission nebula in the sky, the Tarantula Nebula (also known as NGC 2070 or 30 Doradus ) is located in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) , one of the satellite galaxies to our own Milky Way system. Seen far down in the southern sky at a distance of about 170,000 light-years, this beautiful nebula measures more than 1000 light-years across and extends over more than one third of a degree, almost, but not quite the size of the full moon. It received its descriptive name because of the unusual shape. It is a splendid object with a central cluster of hot and luminous young stars that powers strong emission from hydrogen and oxygen gas, making the Tarantula Nebula an easy and impressive target for observations, even with the unaided eye.

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The Largest Emission Nebula in The Sky, José Joaquín Pérez