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Filaments in the Tarantula Nebula Space Wallpaper

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Filaments in the Tarantula Nebula
Filaments of ionized gas in the proximity of the R136 cluster, which lies beyond the lower left edge of the photo. (Image credit: ESO)

Filaments of ionized gas in the proximity of the R136 cluster, which lies beyond the lower left edge of the photo are revealed in this beautiful space wallpaper. The different hues are due to different physical conditions that manifest themselves in the spectrum of the light emitted by the gas. Note also the dark lanes running roughly from bottom left to upper right, which are due to filaments of obscuring dust seen in projection against the background of bright nebulosity. The sky field measures 6.5 x 5.7 arcmin. North is up and East is left.

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Space.com Staff
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Space.com is the premier source of space exploration, innovation and astronomy news, chronicling (and celebrating) humanity's ongoing expansion across the final frontier. Originally founded in 1999, Space.com is, and always has been, the passion of writers and editors who are space fans and also trained journalists. Our current news team consists of Editor-in-Chief Tariq Malik; Editor Hanneke Weitering, Senior Space Writer Mike Wall; Senior Writer Meghan Bartels; Senior Writer Chelsea Gohd, Senior Writer Tereza Pultarova and Staff Writer Alexander Cox, focusing on e-commerce. Senior Producer Steve Spaleta oversees our space videos, with Diana Whitcroft as our Social Media Editor.