In the depths of the dark clouds of dust and molecular gas known
as the Omega Nebula, stars continue to form. The above image
from the Hubble Space Telescope's Advanced Camera for Surveys
shows exquisite detail in the famous star-forming region. dust
filaments that lace the center of Omega Nebula were created in
the atmospheres of cool giant stars and in the debris from
supernova explosions. The red and blue hues arise from glowing
gas heated by the radiation of massive nearby stars. The points
of light are the young stars themselves, some brighter than 100
Suns. Dark globules mark even younger systems, clouds of gas and
dust just now condensing to form stars and planets. The Omega
Nebula lies about 5000 light years away toward the constellation
of Sagittarius. The region shown spans about 3000 times the
diameter of our Solar System.