Dusty Space Cloud

Spitzer_ssc2012-01a_1024

spitzer_ssc2012-01a January 10th, 2012

Credit: ESA/NASA/JPL-Caltech/STScI

This new image shows the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy in infrared light as seen by the Herschel Space Observatory, a European Space Agency-led mission with important NASA contributions, and NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. In the instruments' combined data, this nearby dwarf galaxy looks like a fiery, circular explosion. Rather than fire, however, those ribbons are actually giant ripples of dust spanning tens or hundreds of light-years. Significant fields of star formation are noticeable in the center, just left of center and at right. The brightest center-left region is called 30 Doradus, or the Tarantula Nebula, for its appearance in visible light.

The colors in this image indicate temperatures in the dust that permeates the Cloud. Colder regions show where star formation is at its earliest stages or is shut off, while warm expanses point to new stars heating surrounding dust. The coolest areas and objects appear in red, corresponding to infrared light taken up by Herschel's Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver at 250 microns, or millionths of a meter. Herschel's Photodetector Array Camera and Spectrometer fills out the mid-temperature bands, shown here in green, at 100 and 160 microns. The warmest spots appear in blue, courtesy of 24- and 70-micron data from Spitzer.

Provider: Spitzer Space Telescope

Image Source: http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/images/4872-ssc2012-01a-Dusty-Space-Cloud

Curator: Spitzer Space Telescope, Pasadena, CA, USA

Image Use Policy: Public Domain

Image Details Image Details

Image Type
Observation
Object Name
Large Magellanic Cloud LMC
Subject - Local Universe
Galaxy > Type > Spiral
Galaxy > Type > Barred
Galaxy > Type > Irregular

Distance Details Distance

Universescale2
163,000 light years
Spitzer_ssc2012-01a_128
 

Position Details Position Details

Position (ICRS)
RA = 5h 16m 28.6s
DEC = -68° 14’ 6.4”
Orientation
North is up
Field of View
8.6 x 8.6 degrees
Constellation
Dorado

Color Mapping Details Color Mapping

  Telescope Spectral Band Wavelength
Blue Spitzer (MIPS) Infrared (Mid-IR) 24.0 µm
Cyan Spitzer (MIPS) Infrared (Far-IR) 70.0 µm
Green Herschel (PACS) Infrared (Far-IR) 100.0 µm
Green Herschel (PACS) Infrared (Far-IR) 160.0 µm
Red Herschel (SPIRE) Infrared (Far-IR) 250.0 µm
Spectrum_ir1
Blue
Cyan
Green
Green
Red
Spitzer_ssc2012-01a_1280
×
ID
ssc2012-01a
Subject Category
C.5.1.1.   C.5.1.2.   C.5.1.6.  
Subject Name
Large Magellanic Cloud, LMC
Credits
ESA/NASA/JPL-Caltech/STScI
Release Date
2012-01-10
Lightyears
163,000
Redshift
Reference Url
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/images/4872-ssc2012-01a-Dusty-Space-Cloud
Type
Observation
Image Quality
Good
Distance Notes
Facility
Spitzer, Spitzer, Herschel, Herschel, Herschel
Instrument
MIPS, MIPS, PACS, PACS, SPIRE
Color Assignment
Blue, Cyan, Green, Green, Red
Band
Infrared, Infrared, Infrared, Infrared, Infrared
Bandpass
Mid-IR, Far-IR, Far-IR, Far-IR, Far-IR
Central Wavelength
24000, 70000, 100000, 160000, 250000
Start Time
Integration Time
Dataset ID
Notes
Coordinate Frame
ICRS
Equinox
Reference Value
7.911910028620E+01, -6.823512079387E+01
Reference Dimension
15500, 15500
Reference Pixel
7750, 7750
Scale
-5.55555555555600e-04, 5.55555555555600e-04
Rotation
-0
Coordinate System Projection:
TAN
Quality
Full
FITS Header
Notes
Creator (Curator)
Spitzer Space Telescope
URL
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu
Name
Spitzer Space Telescope
Email
Telephone
Address
1200 E. California Blvd.
City
Pasadena
State/Province
CA
Postal Code
91125
Country
USA
Rights
Public Domain
Publisher
Publisher ID
spitzer
Resource ID
ssc2012-01a.tif
Metadata Date
2012-01-23
Metadata Version
×

 

Detailed color mapping information coming soon...

×
Universescalefull
163,000 light years

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