| Name | 30 Doradus (also known as the Tarantula Nebula) |
| Description | A star-forming nebula; it is the brightest nearby star-forming region and home to some of the most massive stars in our cosmic neighborhood. |
| Location | In the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), a galaxy found in the constellation Dorado, in the Southern Hemisphere |
| Distance from Earth | About 170,000 light-years away from Earth |
30 Doradus, a star-forming factory, has been creating stars at a furious pace for millions of years.
"Fast Facts: 30 Doradus" is a table that lists the name, description, location, and distance from Earth of the star-forming region, 30 Doradus. A picture of the star-forming region is included.
Use this resource as:
A source of information. Read the table to find out about this object.
A mapping activity. Locate the 30 Doradus' associated constellation on a star map.
A large-number recognition activity. Have students look at several Fast Fact tables, including this one. Ask them to place the objects described in the Fast Fact tables in order, starting with the object closest to Earth and ending with the one farthest away.
An inquiry tool. Have students write down questions they would like answered about the image and the information in the Fast Facts table.
An engagement tool. Involve students in a discussion.
HubbleSite press release: "Hubble's 22nd Anniversary Image Shows Turbulent Star-Making Region"
Amazing Space resources by topic: Stars and Stellar Evolution
