APOD 25: STAR FACTORY MESSIER 17

2014 May 27

Sculpted by stellar winds and radiation, the star factory known as Messier 17 lies some 5,500 light-years away in the constellation Sagittarius. This field of view covers nearly 100 light years. The sharp, composite, color image follows faint details of the region's gas and dust clouds against the backdrop of the central Milky Way stars. Stellar winds and energetic light from hot, massive stars formed from M17's stock of cosmic gas and dust have slowly carved away at the remaining interstellar material, producing a cavernous and misshaped appearance.