30 Doradus, also known as the Tarantula Nebula, presents a spectacle of young stars in an impressive NASA Hubble image. Released on April 16, 2012, the image is one of the largest mosaic images Hubble has ever stitched together. This majestic nebula, about 650 light-years across, shines like a birthplace of stars. 

Located 170,000 light-years from us in the Large Magellanic Cloud, 30 Doradus stands out for its extraordinary brightness. It is the brightest star-forming region among our galactic neighbors and home to the most massive stars ever observed. No other star-forming region in our galaxy is as massive or as prolific.

The clouds of gas and dust in the lower left mesmerize with shapes reminiscent of beach waves. These unusual structures are formed by the ultraviolet light emitted by massive stars. These stars not only shape the material around them, but can also trigger the birth of new stars. Shock waves are generated when ultraviolet light hits dense walls of gas, and this process can lead to the birth of new generations of stars.

Image description:

This turbulent scene of star birth takes shape in shades of deep blue, brownish red and white. Millions of stars, some larger and brighter than others, dot the landscape. In the center left, a bright field looks like white branches stretching outward. Just below it are clouds carved into wave-like shapes.

 

Credit: NASA, ESA, D. Lennon and E. Sabbi (ESA/STScI), J. Anderson, S. E. de Mink, R. van der Marel, T. Sohn and N. Walborn (STScI), N. Bastian (Excellence Cluster, Munich), L. Bedin (INAF, Padua), E. Bressert (ESO), P. Crowther (University of Sheffield), A. de Koter (University of Amsterdam), C. Evans (UKATC/STFC, Edinburgh), A. Herrero (IAC, Tenerife), N. Langer (AifA, Bonn), I. Platais (JHU) and H. Sana (University of Amsterdam)