Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. The newborn stars are seen just as they emerge from their natal nebula. Other nebulae which surround massive star clusters can be a thousand or more light-years across. But, prior to the Hubble observations, it was unknown whether N81 and similar , compact emission nebulae were cradles of single stars or star clusters. The colorful image emphasizes graceful arcs of dark interstellar dust and fluorescing gas sculpted by the young stars' energetic winds and radiation.
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