                        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.

                                2023 June 19
   The center of the Lagoon Nebula is pictured in false colors. Toward the
     center left, dark dust swirls around glowing gas and bright stars.
          Please see the explanation for more detailed information.

                    The Busy Center of the Lagoon Nebula
     Image Credit: NASA, ESA, Hubble; Processing: Francisco Javier Pobes
                                   Serrano

   Explanation: The center of the Lagoon Nebula is a whirlwind of
   spectacular star formation. Visible near the image center, at least two
   long funnel-shaped clouds, each roughly half a light-year long, have
   been formed by extreme stellar winds and intense energetic starlight. A
   tremendously bright nearby star, Herschel 36, lights the area. Vast
   walls of dust hide and redden other hot young stars. As energy from
   these stars pours into the cool dust and gas, large temperature
   differences in adjoining regions can be created generating shearing
   winds which may cause the funnels. This picture, spanning about 15
   light years, combines images taken in four colors by the orbiting
   Hubble Space Telescope. The Lagoon Nebula, also known as M8, lies about
   5000 light years distant toward the constellation of the Archer
   (Sagittarius).

                   Tomorrow's picture: large galactic bird
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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