NGC 281, Pacman Nebula, X-Ray
NGC 281 showing X-ray data from Chandra. High-mass stars are important because they are responsible for much of the energy pumped into our galaxy over its lifetime. Unfortunately, these stars are poorly understood because they are often found relatively far away and can be obscured by gas and dust. The star cluster NGC 281 is an exception to this rule. It is located about 9,200 light years from Earth and, remarkably, almost 1,000 light years above the plane of the Galaxy, giving astronomers a nearly unfettered view of the star formation within it. Release date September 28, 2011.
Size: 3600px × 2719px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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