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                           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.   
      
                                   2025 June 23   
      A star field is shown in infrared light. In the center is an extremely   
      complex nebula that is outlines an iconic heart. Glowing gas shades the   
       center of the heart red. Please see the explanation for more detailed   
                                   information.   
      
                           W5: Pillars of Star Formation   
        Image Credit: NASA, WISE, IRSA; Processing & Copyright : Francesco   
                                     Antonucci   
      
      Explanation: How do stars form? Images of the star forming region W5   
      like those in the infrared by NASA's Wide Field Infrared Survey   
      Explorer (WISE, later NEOWISE) satellite provide clear clues with   
      indications that massive stars near the center of empty cavities are   
      older than stars near the edges. A likely reason for this is that the   
      older stars in the center are actually triggering the formation of the   
      younger edge stars. The triggered star formation occurs when hot   
      outflowing gas compresses cooler gas into knots dense enough to   
      gravitationally contract into stars. In the featured scientifically   
      colored infrared image, spectacular pillars left slowly evaporating   
      from the hot outflowing gas provide further visual clues. W5 is also   
      known as Westerhout 5 (W5) and IC 1848. Together with IC 1805, the   
      nebulas form a complex region of star formation popularly dubbed the   
      Heart and Soul Nebulas. The featured image highlights a part of W5   
      spanning about 2,000 light years that is rich in star forming pillars.   
      W5 lies about 6,500 light years away toward the constellation of   
      Cassiopeia.   
      
      APOD Turns 30!: Free public lecture in Cork, Ireland tomorrow (Tuesday)   
                                      at 7 pm   
                         Tomorrow's picture: spiral spiral   
        __________________________________________________________________   
      
          Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)   
               NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.   
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                         A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC,   
                              NASA Science Activation   
                                & Michigan Tech. U.   
      
   --- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-7   
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