A

David

Darling

Ghost Head Nebula (NGC 2080)

Ghost Head Nebula

The Ghost Head Nebula (NGC 2080) is one of a chain of star-forming regions lying south of the Tarantula Nebula in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Two bright regions (the eyes of the ghost), named A1 and A2, are very hot, glowing blobs of hydrogen and oxygen. The bubble in A1 is produced by the hot, intense radiation and powerful stellar wind from a single massive star. A2 has a more complex appearance due to the presence of more dust, and it contains several hidden, massive stars. The massive stars in A1 and A2 must have formed within the last 10,000 years since their natal gas shrouds are not yet disrupted by the powerful radiation of the newly born stars.