The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) is one of the most beautiful cosmic sights that a southern observer can take in with their naked eye. At just over 150,000 light-years from Earth, this large(ish) satellite galaxy of the Milky Way is roughly 14,000 light-years wide and bursting with newly formed stars. Recently, astronomers homed in on a particularly fertile region of the LMC named LHA 120-N 180B — informally known as N180 B. This nebula, which serves as a sort of stellar nursery, is chock full of ionized hydrogen, or H II. By studying such a glowing glob of gas, not only do astronomers gain insight into what's going on in the area, it also makes for a particularly stunning image, like the one seen above.
The newly discovered jet, known as HH 1177, is seen here bursting from its source — a young, massive star within a star-forming region of the Large Magellanic Cloud.
ESO, A McLeod et al.
But deep inside N180 B hides a smaller yet equally brea...
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