NGC 281

NGC 281: A nebula with active star formation about 9,200 light years from Earth.

This composite image of NGC 281 contains X-ray data from Chandra (purple) with infrared observations from Spitzer (red, green, blue). The high-mass stars in NGC 281 drive many aspects of their galactic environment through powerful winds flowing from their surfaces and intense radiation that heats surrounding gas, "boiling it away" into interstellar space. This process results in the formation of large columns of gas and dust, as seen on the left side of the image. These structures likely contain newly forming stars. The eventual deaths of massive stars as supernovas will also seed the galaxy with material and energy.

(Credits: X-ray: NASA/CXC/CfA/S.Wolk; IR: NASA/JPL/CfA/S.Wolk)

Planetary Nebula:
We are star stuff harvesting sunlight.

NGC 281:
There was nowhere to go but everywhere, so just keep on rolling under the stars.

Perseus A:
Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.

Tarantula Nebula:
Only in the darkness can you see the stars.

Cassiopeia A
Surely the stars are images of love.

Galactic Center
The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks.

Catseye Nebula
No star is ever lost we once have seen, We always may be what we might have been.

Centaurus A
Our destiny is in the stars, so let's go and search for it.

M82
Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars and see yourself running with them.

NGC 602
I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.

M101
the axis of the universe—love