Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                               2020 October 28

                        NGC 6357: The Lobster Nebula
                    Image Credit & Copyright: Steven Mohr

   Explanation: Why is the Lobster Nebula forming some of the most massive
   stars known? No one is yet sure. Cataloged as NGC 6357, the Lobster
   Nebula houses the open star cluster Pismis 24 near its center -- a home
   to unusually bright and massive stars. The overall blue glow near the
   inner star forming region results from the emission of ionized hydrogen
   gas. The surrounding nebula, featured here, holds a complex tapestry of
   gas, dark dust, stars still forming, and newly born stars. The
   intricate patterns are caused by complex interactions between
   interstellar winds, radiation pressures, magnetic fields, and gravity.
   NGC 6357 spans about 400 light years and lies about 8,000 light years
   away toward the constellation of the Scorpion.

                       Tomorrow's picture: open space
     __________________________________________________________________

       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
                NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices
                      A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC
                             & Michigan Tech. U.

--- hpt/lnx 1.9.0