the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope captures stunning new images of the sky

This year for its 24th birthday

the space telescope has released a new image of part of NGC 2174

This region, also known as the Monkey Head Nebula,

is filled with young stars embedded within bright wisps of cosmic gas and dust

Episode 73: Hubble revisits the Monkey Head Nebula for 24th birthday snap

Nebulae are a favourite target for Hubble

Their colourful plumes of gas and fiery bright stars create ethereally beautiful pictures

Some of Hubble's most beautiful and popular images have been of nebulae

for example, take the telescope's striking image of the Ring Nebula released last year

or this delicate and beautiful infrared image of the Horsehead Nebula

produced to celebrate Hubble's 23rd anniversary

In 2012 Hubble viewed the Tarantula Nebula to commemorate its 22nd birthday

and for its 21st snapped the stunning cosmic rose Arp 273

Now, to celebrate its 24th year in orbit

Hubble has revisited part of NGC 2174

more commonly known as the Monkey Head Nebula

Dark brown and rust coloured dust clouds billow outwards

framed against a background of bright blue gas

These striking hues are formed by combining several Hubble images

taken with different coloured filters to reveal a broad range of colours not normally visible to the human eye

This is not the first time Hubble has turned its gaze to the Monkey Head Nebula

Sitting about 6400 light-years away in the constellation of Orion,

NGC 2174 was previously captured by Hubble in 2011

The violent stellar nursery contains all the ingredients needed for star formation

However, the recipe for cooking up new stars isn't very efficient

and most of these ingredients are wasted

as the cloud of gas and dust gradually disperses

The rate at which the nebula disperses is accelerated by the presence of fiery hot young stars

which trigger high velocity winds that help to blow the gas outwards.

Launched in 1990,

the Hubble Space Telescope has witnessed countless cosmic marvels in its 24 years in orbit.

Capturing the elegance of nature,

it is a unique window into the Universe and continues to astound us year after year

with stunning images and cutting-edge science.

Happy 24th birthday Hubble!

Hubblecast is produced by ESA/Hubble at the European Southern Observatory in Germany.

The Hubble mission is a project of international cooperation between NASA and the European Space Agency.

www.spacetelescope.org

Transcribed by ESA/Hubble. Translation --