W49A Star Forming Region (IMAGE) Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian Caption This image from the Smithsonian's Submillimeter Array maps the projected density of molecular gas in the central 30 light years of W49A. Brighter colors mark denser regions. The brightest region at the image center is less than three light-years across, yet it contains about 50,000 suns' worth of molecular gas. Credit Roberto Galván-Madrid (ESO), Hauyu Baobab Liu (ASIAA, Taiwan), Tzu-Cheng Peng (ESO) Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.