Cosmic Scale
Tarantula Nebula
Star-forming nebula · 160,000 light-years
How big is Tarantula Nebula?
Tarantula Nebula is about 1,000 light-years across.
See Tarantula Nebula in 3D, at true scale
The Tarantula Nebula, in the Large Magellanic Cloud, is the largest and most active stellar nursery near us. At its heart is the cluster R136, home of R136a1, the most massive star known. Its size depends on where its faint edges are drawn — estimates run from about 650 to over 1,800 light-years.
At a glance
| Diameter | 1,000 light-years |
|---|---|
| Diameter compared with Earth | 7.4 × 10¹¹ × Earth |
| Distance | 160,000 light-years |
| Size | About 1,000 light-years |
| Galaxy | Large Magellanic Cloud |
| Heart | The R136 cluster |
Good to know
- If it were as close as the Orion Nebula, it would cast shadows on Earth.
- Supernova 1987A, the closest seen since the invention of the telescope, went off on its outskirts.
- It is visible to the naked eye from the southern hemisphere, despite lying in another galaxy.
- Next smaller: Carina Nebula · 460 light-years
- Next larger: Small Magellanic Cloud · 18,900 light-years