NGC 281: A region of active star formation about 10,000 light years from
Caption: A composite image of X-ray (purple) and optical data of NGC
281 (red and yellow) reveals a region with very young stars and some actively forming. The Chandra data show more than 300 individual X-ray sources, most of
which are associated with the central star cluster. The edge-on aspect of NGC 281 allows scientists to study the effects of powerful X-rays on the gas in the region, the raw material for star formation.
Scale: Image is 29 arcmin across.
Chandra X-ray Observatory ACIS Image