NGC 2070 - 30 Doradus - Tarantula Nebula in wide field

NGC 2070 - Tarantula Nebula

The Tarantula Nebula (also known as 30 Doradus, or NGC 2070) is an H II region (ionized hidrogen) in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). It was originally thought to be a star, but in 1751 Nicolas Louis de Lacaille recognized its nebular nature.[1] The name "Tarantula" is most commonly used for this object, but Mark R. Chartrand, in his Skyguide, also gives reference to the names "Great Looped Nebula" (probably for its appearance) and "True Lovers' Knot"; "Looped Nebula" goes back to John Herschel.[2]

The Tarantula Nebula has an apparent magnitude of 8.[1] Considering its distance of about 179,000 light-years [2], this is an extremely luminous non-stellar object. Its luminosity is so great that if it were as close to Earth as the Orion Nebula, the Tarantula Nebula would cast shadows. In fact, it is the most active starburst region known in the Local Group of galaxies. It is also one of the largest such region in the Local Group with an estimated diameter of 200 pc. The nebula resides on the leading edge of the LMC, where ram pressure stripping, and the compression of the interstellar medium likely resulting from this, is at a maximum. At its core lies the compact star cluster R136 (approximate diameter 35 light years) that produces most of the energy that makes the nebula visible. The estimated mass of the cluster is 450,000 solar masses, suggesting it will likely become a globular cluster in the future.[1]

In addition to R136, the Tarantula Nebula also contains an older star cluster – catalogued as Hodge 301 – with an age of 20–25 million years. The most massive stars of this cluster have already exploded in supernovae.[1]

The closest supernova observed since the invention of the telescope, Supernova 1987A, occurred in the outskirts of the Tarantula Nebula.[1]


Sources:
[1] wikipedia
[2] http://messier.seds.org/xtra/ngc/n2070.html

This picture was taken on July 31, 2014 - Aguanil - Minas Gerais - Brazil.

Technical data
ISO 800, total exposure of 01h45m (21 subs), darks, flats and biases applied.

Equipment
- Equatorial Mount Orion Atlas EQ-G
- Refractor Triplet Meade 80mm APO F6
- Canon DSLR 500D modded with Astrodon Filter
- Astronomik CLS EOS Clip Filter
- Auto guided with Orion Starshoot and Refractor Orion 80mm
- Astro-Tech Field Flattener 2"

Software
Capture: BackyardEOS
Processing: PixInsight 1.8 and Adobe Photoshop CS5

Ps: Stars's spikes were created by crossed wire in front of refractor!