The Omega Nebula is a region of star formation which is about 5,000 light years from Earth. It is an emission nebula which glows because its atoms are energized by ultraviolet radiation from the hot, young stars embedded within it. The stars in the Omega Nebula are difficult to see with optical telescopes because they are surrounded by dense clouds of gas and dust. However, infrared telescopes can peer through this dust, allowing us to gather valuable information about these newly formed stars and their environments.
For this false-color composite of the Omega Nebula, the 8.28 µm band was rendered as cyan, the 12.13 µm band was rendered as green, the 14.65 µm band was rendered as orange, and the 21.3 µm band was rendered as violet. This image covers 2 x 2 degrees in the sky.
Credit: MSX/IPAC/NASA