Stunning Hubble Image of Star-Forming Complex Named Image of the Week

Key Takeaways

1. N159 is an H II region located about 160,000 light-years away in the constellation Dorado, consisting of ionized hydrogen gas from young, massive stars.
2. Young stars emit strong ultraviolet rays that ionize hydrogen atoms, leading to the release of light in the H-alpha spectrum, which gives N159 its reddish appearance.
3. N159 is one of the largest star-forming clouds in the Large Magellanic Cloud, spanning over 150 light-years.
4. Hubble’s images of N159 highlight the hot gases involved in star formation, showcasing bright red clouds and sparkling stars in different areas of the region.
5. N159 is described as a “turbulent cauldron of star birth,” illustrating the intense activities of star formation occurring within it.

N159 is a well-known H II region situated approximately 160,000 light-years away in the constellation Dorado. An H II region consists of hydrogen gas that has been ionized due to the intense heat emitted by young, massive stars.

These young stars produce strong ultraviolet rays that cause hydrogen atoms to lose their electrons — a process referred to as ionization. As the electrons and protons in the hydrogen atoms recombine, they eventually release light, especially in the H-alpha spectrum. H-alpha light emits a red hue, which gives star-forming areas like N159 their distinct reddish look.

A Massive Star-Forming Cloud

N159 ranks among the largest star-forming clouds within the Large Magellanic Cloud, which is a smaller galaxy that orbits our Milky Way. The image here represents only a small fraction of N159, which spans over 150 light-years—almost 10 million times the distance from the Earth to the Sun.

In 2016, Hubble shared an image showcasing the entire N159 star-forming cloud. However, that particular image didn’t emphasize the hot gases responsible for star formation. In the current image, this crucial aspect is clearly shown. The bright red clouds dominate the left and center sections, while the right side reveals sparkling stars due to the scarcity of gas there.

A Turbulent Cauldron of Star Birth

N159 has been referred to as a “turbulent cauldron of star birth.” The capability of Hubble to produce such images allows us to grasp the intense activities of star formation taking place in N159 much better.

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