Newborn Stars Discovered in Dark Cosmic Cloud (IMAGE)
Caption
A dark, wispy cloud of dust (extending from the center, right) seems to billow out from a bright explosion in this false-color image in infrared light from the Spitzer Space Telescope. These views have revealed that the mystery cloud, called M17 SWex, is forming stars at a furious rate but has not yet spawned the most massive stars -- O stars. To the left, on the trailing end of the dark cloud, such mammoth O stars create a dramatic contrast of brilliant light near the image's center.
Credit
NASA/JPL-Caltech/Matthew Povich (Penn State)
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