#sharpless 171

2005 September 27

The Star Pillars of Sharpless 171

Credit: Nicolas Outters (Observatoire d'Orange)

Explanation: Towering pillars of cold gas and dark dust adorn the center star forming region of Sharpless 171. An open cluster of stars is forming there from the gas in cold molecular clouds. As energetic light emitted by young massive stars boils away the opaque dust, the region fragments and picturesque pillars of the remnant gas and dust form and slowly evaporate. The energetic light also illuminates the surrounding hydrogen gas, energize it to glow as a red emission nebula. Pictured above is the active central region of the Sharpless 171 greater emission nebula. Sharpless 171 incorporates NGC 7822 and the active region Cederblad 214, much of which is imaged above. The area above spans about 20 light years, lies about 3,000 light years away, and can be seen with a telescope toward the northern constellation of the King of Ethiopia (Cepheus).

Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (USRA)

NASA Official: Jay Norris.

A service of: EUD at NASA / GSFC

Sharpless 171

Sharpless 171 is an emission nebula and star forming region located about 3,000 light years away towards the constellation Cepheus, the king of Ethiopia. This region is about 20 light years across, showing the central area of the nebula.

The glow of Sharpless 171 is powered by young stars within, an open cluster called Berkeley 59. The radiation from the stars not only illuminate the hydrogen gas of the region but also burns away the dust and gas, slowly evaporating the nebula.

Sharpless 171

Sharpless 171 is an emission nebula and star forming region located about 3,000 light years away towards the constellation Cepheus. This view of the region is about 20 light years across and includes part of Cederblad 214, an active region part of Sharpless 171.

Also included in the region is NGC 7822 and Berkely 59, a young star cluster. This cluster emits radiation that erodes surrounding dust and gas, creating the transient shapes of the nebula's material. The radiation also ionizes hydrogen atoms, stripping away electrons which emit red light upon recombining.