A team of astronomers has released a breathtaking composite image of the Tarantula Nebula, also known as 30 Doradus, which showcases the deepest X-ray image ever made of this spectacular star-forming region. The image combines data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, Hubble Space Telescope, and Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array.
Located about 160,000 light-years away in a small neighboring galaxy to the Milky Way, 30 Doradus is one of the brightest and most populated star-forming regions in the universe. The image reveals thousands of distinct star systems, as well as diffuse X-ray emission from winds blowing off giant stars and X-ray gas expelled by supernovae.
The data was collected over 23 days using Chandra’s X-ray telescope, exceeding previous observations on the region. This new image will be invaluable for studying diffuse X-ray emission in star-forming regions, allowing scientists to search for changes in massive stars and their movements.
The most massive stars in 30 Doradus are found in a dense cluster at its center, which is estimated to be around one to two million years old. These young stars send powerful cosmic winds that have carved out an eye-catching display of arcs, pillars, and bubbles.
The Chandra X-ray Observatory program was managed by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory controlling science operations from Cambridge, Massachusetts. The image is set to be published in a forthcoming issue of The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series.
Source: https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/nasa-telescopes-deliver-stellar-bouquet-in-time-for-valentines-day