star birth – National Radio Astronomy Observatory

ALMA Mosaic Star Cluster (animated gif)

This animated gif shows the structure and motions (speed in direction towards the Sun) of gas in the forming cluster G286.21+0.17, as seen with ALMA (purple) on top of the infrared Hubble image. The color-scales from pink-purple to blue-purple represent the gas moving at different velocities, from 15km/s to 24 km/s. These motions are controlled by gravity, turbulence and wind and radiation pressure “feedback” from the new-born stars.

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