Hubble discovers complex structures in the Carina nebula

2000/04/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Astronomia

The Carina nebula is one of the most unique objects in the Southern Hemisphere of the Milky Way. This nebula houses numerous hot and giant stars, 10 times warmer than the Sun and 100 times larger, such as the well-known Canopus star. Around these stars there are giant clouds of dust and gas in which astronomers believe new stars are being born.

The Hubble Space Telescope has recently obtained accurate images of the Carina nebula and the images show compact clouds of weird looking gas and dust (as can be seen in the lower and upper left part of the image). Astronomers believe that clouds of gas and dust are collapsing and if they do not evaporate before, they will create new stars.