This is a stunning star-forming region known as Sharpless 2-106. It is located in the constellation Cygnus the Swan some 2,000 light years from Earth.
The wings of this emission nebula are bubbles of hot gas created by strong stellar winds and high energy radiation coming from a massive, hot, newborn star in the center.
The central star is very large, some 15 times more massive than our Sun. Two jets of matter streaming from its poles heat the surrounding gas and dust to ten thousand degrees Celsius.
Dust that is not ionized by the stellar jets reflect the light from the star which is ejecting material at roughly 100 km/s.
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Visualization used:
http://hubblesite.org/videos/video_details/18-celestial-snow-angel-star-forming-region
Music:
http://www.lochnessproductions.com/
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