The Firecracker Nebula

The Firecracker Nebula, also known as NGC 3576, is a bright region in space located about 9,000 light-years away in the constellation Centaurus. It is a type of emission nebula, where gas and dust glow due to the energy from nearby young, hot stars. The nebula's intricate structure resembles a firecracker bursting, hence its name. It is a stellar nursery, where new stars are being formed from the surrounding material. The vibrant colors seen in images of the Firecracker Nebula are created by different gases, primarily hydrogen, which emit light when energized by nearby stars.