W5: Pillars of Star Formation: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap141216.html
This image of W5 was taken in infrared by NASA's Wide Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) satellite. The massive stars near the center are older than the stars near the edges. The older stars are probably what triggers the formation of the younger stars on the edges. This occurs when hot outflowing gas compresses cooler gas into knots dense enough to gravitationally contract into stars. This star formation is also known as the Heart and Soul Nebulas. W5 lies about 6,500 light years away towards Cassiopeia. I love how the cavity in the center looks like a heart.
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