NGC 7380: The Wizard Nebula

What powers are being wielded in the Wizard Nebula? Gravitation strong enough to form stars, and stellar wind s and radiations powerful enough to create and dissolve towers of gas . Located only 8,000 light years away, the Wizard nebula, pictured above , surrounds developing open star cluster NGC 7380. Visually, the interplay of stars, gas, and dust has created a shape that appears to some like a fictional medieval sorcerer . The active star forming region spans 100 about light years, making it appear larger than the angular extent of the Moon. The Wizard Nebula can be located with a small telescope toward the constellation of the King of Aethiopia ( Cepheus ). Although the nebula may last only a few million years, some of the stars being formed may outlive our Sun. Imagine: What shape(s) do you see in the nebula?