Explanation:
Massive stars lie
within NGC 6357,
an expansive emission nebula complex
some 8,000 light-years away in the tail of the constellation
Scorpius.
In fact, positioned just below center in
this close-up view of
NGC 6357, star cluster Pismis 24 includes
some of the most massive stars known
in the galaxy,
stars with over 100 times the mass of the Sun.
The nebula's bright central region also contains dusty pillars of
molecular gas, likely hiding massive protostars from the
prying eyes
of optical instruments.
Intricate shapes in the nebula are carved by interstellar winds
and energetic radiation from the young and newly forming
massive stars.
This alluring telescopic view spans just under 50 light-years at
the estimated distance of NGC 6357.
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