Hubble finds infant stars in neighbouring galaxy
The exquisite sharpness of the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has plucked out an underlying population of infant stars embedded in the nebula NGC 346 that are still forming from gravitationally collapsing gas clouds. They have not yet ignited their hydrogen fuel to sustain nuclear fusion. The smallest of these infant stars is only half the mass of our Sun.
Credit:About the Image
NASA press release
| Id: | heic0502a |
|---|---|
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | 12 January 2005, 20:00 |
| Related releases: | heic0502 |
| Size: | 6555 x 6995 px |
About the Object
| Name: | NGC 346 |
|---|---|
| Type: | Local Universe : Star : Grouping : Cluster |
| Distance: | 200000 light years |
| Constellation: | Tucana |
| Category: | Nebulae Star Clusters |
Image Formats
Coordinates
| Position (RA): | 0 59 7.46 |
|---|---|
| Position (Dec): | -72° 10' 32.86" |
| Field of view: | 4.37 x 4.67 arcminutes |
| Orientation: | North is 1.3° right of vertical |
View in ESASky:
View in WorldWide Telescope:
Colours & filters
| Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
|---|---|---|
| Optical V | 555 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
ACS |
| Optical I | 814 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
ACS |