Key facts
- Category
- Nebulae
- Object class
- Star-forming nebula
- Host
- Large Magellanic Cloud
- Scale fact
- 1,000 lymaximum extent
- Composition
- Ionized hydrogen, molecular gas, dust, embedded young star clusters
Tarantula Nebula
1,000 lymaximum extent
Details
The Tarantula Nebula is the most luminous known star-forming region in the Local Group. It lies in the Large Magellanic Cloud and contains the dense young cluster R136, whose massive stars flood the surrounding gas with radiation and powerful winds.
The Tarantula Nebula spans about 1,000 light-years within the Large Magellanic Cloud. Its central region contains R136, a compact young cluster with some of the most massive known stars, surrounded by ionized gas, dust and multiple generations of star formation.
Radiation and winds from those stars excavate cavities and compress or disperse nearby clouds. Because the region is relatively close yet resembles the giant star-forming complexes seen in more distant galaxies, it provides unusually detailed observations of extreme stellar feedback.
Links
- Editorial guides
- Universe journey
- Orion Arm
- Preset views
- Wikipedia
- Tarantula Nebula on Wikipedia
Size neighbors
Objects near Tarantula Nebula on the scale
On the logarithmic size axis, Tarantula Nebula falls between Carina Nebula and Sculptor Dwarf Galaxy. The band uses nearby Star-forming nebula records.
Shared physical scale
765ly
Sources
References for Tarantula Nebula
Measurements and descriptive context are compiled by the Scale of Space team from the references below. If you find an error, please let us know.
- Tarantula Nebula — Wikipedia
- Visual reference: Wikimedia Commons (Hubble 2004 / ESA / NASA / ESO / Danny LaCrue, Public domain)
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About
Scale of Space is a scroll-based journey through the universe, placing objects on a single logarithmic scale so you can compare size across an unbroken range.
Guides explain selected parts of that range, while focused views filter the objects by subject.