Tarantula Nebula
| Emission nebula | |
|---|---|
| H II region | |
 The Tarantula Nebula, first light image of the TRAPPIST national telescope at La Silla Observatory | |
| Observation data: J2000 epoch | |
| Right ascension | 05h 38m 38s[1] |
| Declination | −69° 05.7′[1] |
| Distance | 160 ± 10[2][3] k ly (49 ± 3 k pc) |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | +8[2] |
| Apparent dimensions (V) | 40′ × 25′[2] |
| Constellation | Dorado |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Radius | 300 ly |
| Absolute magnitude (V) | ~ −11.7 |
| Notable features | In LMC |
| Designations | NGC 2070,[2] Doradus Nebula,[1] Dor Nebula,[1] 30 Doradus |
The Tarantula Nebula (also known as 30 Doradus) is an H II region in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). It was originally thought to be a star, but in 1751 Nicolas Louis de Lacaille recognized its nebular nature.
The Tarantula Nebula has an apparent magnitude of 8. Considering its distance of about 49 kpc[2] (160,000 light-years), this is an extremely luminous non-stellar object. Its luminosity is so great that if it were as close to Earth as the Orion Nebula, the Tarantula Nebula would cast shadows.[4] In fact it is the most active starburst region known in the Local Group of galaxies. It is also one of the largest such regions in the Local Group with an estimated diameter of 200 pc.[3] The nebula resides on the leading edge of the LMC where ram pressure stripping, and the compression of the interstellar medium likely resulting from this, is at a maximum.
30 Doradus has at its centre the star cluster NGC 2070 which includes the compact concentration of stars known as R136[5] that produces most of the energy that makes the nebula visible. The estimated mass of the cluster is 450,000 solar masses, suggesting it will likely become a globular cluster in the future.[6] In addition to NGC 2070, the Tarantula Nebula contains a number of other star clusters including the much older Hodge 301. The most massive stars of Hodge 301 have already exploded in supernovae.[7]
The closest supernova observed since the invention of the telescope,[8] Supernova 1987A, occurred in the outskirts of the Tarantula Nebula.[9] There is a prominent supernova remnant enclosing the open cluster NGC 2060, but the remnants of many other supernovae are difficult to detect in the complex nebulosity.[10]
Image gallery
Hubble's Panoramic View of a Star-Forming Region in the super star cluster called R136.
Close-up of the Tarantula Nebula.
The young cluster RMC 136a.
LMC Region near the Tarantula Nebula.
Heart of the Tarantula Nebula: R136 is located in the center of the image while Hodge 301 is in upper right. Credit: ESO.
Tarantula Nebula and its surroundings. Credit: ESO.
Filaments in The Tarantula Nebula in the LMC. Credit: ESO.
The nebula can be seen at the centre of this image.
Tarantula nebula from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE).
| Location | Milky Way → Milky Way subgroup → Local Group → Virgo Supercluster → Laniakea Supercluster → Observable universe → Universe Each arrow (→) may be read as "within" or "part of". |  | |||||||||||||
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Coordinates: 
05h 38m 38s, −69° 5.7′ 0″
References
- 1 2 3 4 "SIMBAD Astronomical Database". Results for Tarantula Nebula. Retrieved 2006-12-22.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "SEDS Students for the Exploration and Development of Space". Results for Tarantula Nebula. Retrieved 2007-05-08.
30 Doradus .. 49 kpc +- 3 kpc
- 1 2 Lebouteiller, V.; Bernard-Salas, J.; Brandl, B.; Whelan, D. G.; et al. (June 2008). "Chemical Composition and Mixing in Giant H II Regions: NGC 3603, 30 Doradus, and N66". The Astrophysical Journal. 680 (1): 398–419. arXiv:0710.4549
. Bibcode:2008ApJ...680..398L. doi:10.1086/587503. - ↑ http://www.noao.edu/news/2011/pr1102.php
- ↑ Massey, P; Hunter, D. (January 1998). "Star Formation in R136: A Cluster of O3 Stars Revealed by Hubble Space Telescope Spectroscopy". The Astrophysical Journal. 493 (1): 180. Bibcode:1998ApJ...493..180M. doi:10.1086/305126.
- ↑ Bosch, Guillermo; Terlevich, Elena; Terlevich, Roberto (2009). "Gemini/GMOS Search for Massive Binaries in the Ionizing Cluster of 30 Dor". Astronomical Journal. 137 (2): 3437–3441. arXiv:0811.4748. Bibcode:2009AJ....137.3437B. doi:10.1088/0004-6256/137/2/3437.
- ↑ Grebel, Eva K.; Chu, You-Hua (2000). "Hubble Space Telescope Photometry of Hodge 301: An "Old" Star Cluster in 30 Doradus". Astronomical Journal. 119 (2): 787–799. arXiv:astro-ph/9910426. Bibcode:2000AJ....119..787G. doi:10.1086/301218.
- ↑ "Tarantula Nebula's Cosmic Web a Thing of Beauty". SPACE.com. 2011-03-21. Retrieved 2011-03-26.
- ↑ "Encyclopedia of Space". Authors: Couper,Heather; Henbest, Nigel. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
- ↑ Lazendic, J. S.; Dickel, J. R.; Jones, P. A. (2003). "Supernova Remnant Candidates in the 30 Doradus Nebula". The Astrophysical Journal. 596: 287. Bibcode:2003ApJ...596..287L. doi:10.1086/377630.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tarantula Nebula. |
- Tarantula Nebula on WikiSky: DSS2, SDSS, GALEX, IRAS, Hydrogen α, X-Ray, Astrophoto, Sky Map, Articles and images
- APOD Images: 2003 August 23 & 2010 May 18
- SEDS Data: NGC 2070, The Tarantula Nebula
- Hubble Space Telescope Images of: The Tarantula Nebula
- European Southern Observatory Image of: The Tarantula Nebula
- The Scale of the Universe (Astronomy Picture of the Day 2012 March 12)
- Crowther, Paul. "Tarantula Nebula and Its Huge Stars". Deep Space Videos. Brady Haran.
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