In today's image, we see the nebula known as Messier 17. This is an example of a star forming region where stars are still forming in the dark, dense, dusty pockets. The stars that have formed emit ultraviolet light which energizes the rest of the nebula causing it to glow.

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This Podcast is an authorized New Media Mirror Site for APOD. You can access the image and website directly at: Astronomy Picture of the Day. You can use the archive link below the image to select the photo corresponding to the date of this podcast.

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