Star-forming Region AFGL 5180

Nestled amongst the vast clouds of star-forming regions like this one lie potential clues about the formation of our own solar system. AFGL 5180 is a beautiful stellar nursery located in the constellation of Gemini. At the center of the image, a massive star is forming and blasting cavities through the clouds with a pair of powerful jets, extending to the top right and bottom left of the image. Light from this star is mostly escaping and reaching us by illuminating these cavities, like a lighthouse piercing through the storm clouds.