This week's picture showcases the Large Magellanic Cloud, our own little satellite galaxy. This week's image is actually the cloud as seen through infrared telescopes. This little irregular galaxy orbits our own and is actually a star forming galaxy, meaning that life could be taking form inside it as well. The most notable feature of the cloud is the Tarantula Nebula, a massive star forming region shown in the left hand area of the portrait. A quick jump of 160,000 light years away, the L.M.C. is 30,000 light years across and primarily a dusty region. Although some areas are star forming others are not and are dying out, just visible as small flecks of red in the picture.
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap120115.html
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