On Earth, the life-shaping forces of nature seem harsh and unyielding; yet compared to the vast star-forming regions of the Milky Way, our planet is a gentle world. For us, tornadoes and heatwaves can be extreme. But imagine a place where the average temperatures range from -400F to 14000F, twisters extend more than 3 trillion miles, and light is so energetic that it erodes everything around it.
How must a place so violent look? How can such extreme conditions be anything but destructive? The Lagoon Nebula holds the answers to these questions. Though located some 5,000 light years away, towards the center of our galaxy, this stellar nursery is one of the most stunning and more prominent objects in the night sky. Even better, it is close enough to permit scientists an in-depth look at some of nature’s most intense forces at work.
Situated within the rich star fields of the constellation Sagittarius, the Lagoon Nebula is framed by several equally splendid and well-known objects; like the Trifid, Swan, and Eagle Nebulas; and some of which can even be seen in the same field of view.
Join us on Saturday evening at 9:30pm EDT / 0130 UTC for a special Slooh Mission Alert. We’ll focus on the Lagoon Nebula and take a neighborhood tour to learn more about our galaxy’s star-forming regions and the forces that create them.
