Astronomy Picture of the Day: 02/01/2026

Object Name: NGC 2070

NGC 2070 as captured by Alan Brain

Copyright: Alan Brain

Location: Cressy, Tasmania

Connect: Instagram @ dark.sky.devil

Skill level: Intermediate (2-4 years)

Image Title

The Tarantula Nebula

Artists' Statement

Alan says, "The Tarantula Nebula Captured from my Bortle 3 backyard, first time trying out the L-Utlimate Filter".

How This Image Was Captured

Gear used

• SW Esprit 100ED

• ASI183MC-Pro

• AM5N

• Optolong L-Ultimate Filter

Exposure details

• 56 x 180 Seconds

• 121 Gain

Processing notes

Stacked and processed in PixInsight using RC Astro’s XTerminator Tools

Exploring NGC 2070

The Tarantula Nebula (NGC 2070) is the largest and most active star-forming region in the Local Group of galaxies, residing within the Large Magellanic Cloud about 160,000 light-years away. Spanning over 1,000 light-years, it is so vast that it would cover a large portion of the Moon’s apparent size if it were in our own galaxy. With an apparent magnitude of 8, it is faintly visible with binoculars under dark southern skies, but its intricate structure only emerges in long-exposure images.

At the heart of the nebula lies the R136 star cluster, home to some of the most massive stars ever discovered, some over 200 times the mass of the Sun. These stellar giants unleash intense ultraviolet radiation and powerful winds, carving cavities and sculpting the surrounding gas into complex filaments and shells. The nebula is a cauldron of star birth, where dense clouds collapse under gravity, triggering waves of new star formation in a never-ending cosmic cycle.

What makes the Tarantula Nebula truly unique is its combination of scale, intensity, and visibility. It serves as a natural laboratory for astronomers studying massive star evolution, supernova precursors, and stellar feedback processes, offering a window into the environments that shaped the earliest stars in the universe. Its glowing tendrils, dark dust lanes, and luminous clusters make it a favourite among astrophotographers, providing both scientific insight and breathtaking beauty.

Behind the Selection

This image of the Tarantula Nebula has been selected for APOD Australia for its beautiful depiction of one of the most active star-forming regions in our cosmic neighbourhood. It captures the nebula’s glowing filaments and energetic stellar clusters, showcasing the wonder and drama of the night sky while celebrating the photographer’s creativity.