Hubble Spots ‘Superbubble’ in Large Magellanic Cloud
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has captured a detailed image of the LHA 120-N44 nebula in the Large Magellanic Cloud. The image highlights a massive 'superbubble' created by stellar winds and supernovae from a central cluster of stars.
Why it matters
This observation provides researchers with critical data on star formation processes and the evolution of interstellar gas structures.
A new images from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope reveals LHA 120-N44, a striking nebula located roughly 160,000 light-years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way.
This Hubble image shows the emission nebula LHA 120-N44. Image credit: NASA / ESA / Hubble / D. Gouliermis.
LHA 120-N44 (or N44 for short) resides approximately 160,000 light-years away in the constellation of Dorado.
“N44 is dominated by two features: a vast central void and a shell of dense, dusty gas,” Hubble astronomers said in a statement.
“The central void is a ‘superbubble’ spanning roughly 210 by 140 light-years across.”
“The glittering stars at the center of the void are responsible for its creation; through their powerful stellar winds and explosive supernovae, these stars expelled much of the gas from which they were born.”
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