Dramatic Stellar Fireworks
To most people, stellar explosions = supernovae. But the beginning of a star’s life can be just as dramatic​.
Gravity’s tug can cause groups of newly-ignited stars to violently collide.
500 years ago, an​ epic clash ​in the Orion Nebula stellar nursery set off explosive cosmic fireworks​.
The collision released as much energy as our Sun emits in 10 million years​.
ALMA snapped this picture of the debris, rocketing out like spectacular​ streamers of light.
Produced by ESO, the European Southern Observatory. Reaching new heights in Astronomy.
Produced by ESO, translated by —