APEX Reveals Glowing Stellar Nurseries
Tuesday, November 11, 2008 - 08:28
in Astronomy & Space
The region, called RCW120, is about 4200 light years from Earth, towards the constellation of Scorpius. A hot, massive star in its center is emitting huge amounts of ultraviolet radiation, which ionizes the surrounding gas, stripping the electrons from hydrogen atoms and producing the characteristic red glow of so-called H-alpha emission.