Star Formation in the DR21 Region - Star Formation in the DR21 Region - This...

Star Formation in the DR21 Region - Star Formation in the DR21 Region - This star formation region is about 6200 years old - light. Hidden in light visible by interstellar dust, this region rises in infrared light. Gas filaments appear in red; they emphasize the presence of aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons (PAH); they are organic molecules composed of carbon atoms and hydrogen that could be the germs on which the first bricks of life appeared. Composite image in different wavelengths obtained by the Spitzer space telescope; in blue the visible light, in yellow and red the infrared light. Hidden behind a shroud of dust in the constellation Cygnus is a stellar nursery called DR21, which is giving birth to some of the most massive stars in our galaxy. Visible light images reveal no trace of this interstellar cauldron because of heavy dust obscuration. This image from Nasa's Spitzer Space Telescope allow us to peek behind the cosmic veil and pinpoint one of the most massive natal stars yet seen in our Milky Way galaxy. The never - before - seen star is 100,000 times as bright as the Sun. Also revealed for the first time is a powerful outflow of hot gas emanating from this star and bursting through a giant molecular cloud. This colorful image is a large - scale composite mosaic assembled from data collected at a variety of different wavelengths. Views at visible wavelengths appear blue, near - infrared light is depicted as green, and mid - infrared data is portrayed as red. The result is a contrast between structures seen in visible light (blue) and those observed in the infrared (yellow and red). The image covers an area about two times that of a full moon. The red filaments stretching across the Spitzer image denote the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. These organic molecules, comprised of carbon and hydrogen, are excited by surrounding i