NGC 3324 (IMAGE)
Caption
An example of a star-forming region in NGC 3324 in the Carina nebula, in which neighboring large stars both sculpt the shape of the nebula and alter the distribution of oxygen isotopes by the photodissociation of carbon monoxide by ultraviolet light. The results of the work presented here favor alteration of oxygen isotopes in a molecular cloud environment. The white scale bar is 5 light years or 300,000 AU (astronomical units, the distance between the Earth and Sun).
Credit
NASA, ESA, Hubble Heritage Team
Usage Restrictions
None
License
Licensed content