Dragonfish nebula
| emission nebula | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Observation data | |
| Distance | 30,000 ly |
| Constellation | Crux |
The Dragonfish Nebula as is known for its appearance on infrared images[1] is a massive emission nebula and star-forming region, at 30,000 light years of the Sun in the direction of the constellation Crux, the Southern Cross.[1]
Characteristics
Due its distance and location it's totally invisible in visible light as the interstellar dust absorbs and reddens its light hiding it, so in order to study it wavelengths that are not affected by it like the infrared are required.
Research done with the help of the Spitzer Space Telescope show this object has a size of 450 light years, having a largue cavity with a diameter of 100 light years that has been originated by the strong stellar winds of the young and massive stars inside it.[1]
As of 2011, approximately 400 stars of spectral types O and B have been identified within the nebula;[2] subsequent studies have confirmed not only at least 15 O-type stars but also 3 Luminous Blue Variable/Wolf-Rayet star candidates but also have calculated a total mass of the stars associated with the Dragonfish nebula of 105, only comparable in mass with the super star cluster Westerlund 1, being respectively the most massive stellar association and the brightest nebula known in our galaxy.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Dragonfish Coming at You in Infrared
- ↑ Rahman, M.; Matzner, C.; Moon, Dae-Sik (2011). "A CANDIDATE FOR THE MOST LUMINOUS OB ASSOCIATION IN THE GALAXY". The Astrophysical Journal Letters 728 (2). arXiv:1101.3323. Bibcode:2011ApJ...728L..37R. doi:10.1088/2041-8205/728/2/L37. article ID:L37.
- ↑ Rahman, M.; Matzner, C. D.; Moon, Dae-Sik (2011). "Spectroscopic Confirmation of the Dragonfish Association: The Galaxy's Most Luminous OB Association". The Astrophysical Journal Letters 743 (2). arXiv:1111.3362. Bibcode:2011ApJ...743L..28R. doi:10.1088/2041-8205/743/2/L28. article ID:L28.