This is the Lagoon Nebula. The "lagoon" is the darker circle surrounding the brightest area. That bright area is where the baby stars are forming. Below the "lagoon" is a cluster of youthful stars, born recently and now slowly spreading out into space, eventually joining the community of single stars.
Glowing clouds of gas and dark clouds of dust form part of star nurseries in space. The new stars set the gases glowing and the dust contributes organic chemicals to any planets that form around the new stars.
John Reichelt is a scientist with a PhD in Microbiology and an interest in astrophotography as a hobby.
- Subject Matter: Astronomy
- Created: 2015
- Inventory Number: 125
- Collections: John Reichelt Astro Photography