The Tarantula Nebula is a massive region of star formation at
the eastern end of the central core of the Large Magellanic Cloud.
It is 1000 light years in diameter, and at its heart lie some
of the most massive and luminous stars that we know. If the
Tarantula Nebula were as close to us as the Orion Nebula, the
nearest star-forming nebula to earth, it would cover 30 degrees
in the sky (that's 60 full moons), and be bright enough to cast
shadows at night. The looping structure of the Tarantula Nebula
(which gives the object its common name, though John Herschel's
suggestion of "loop nebula" seems more descriptive, though less
catchy) is probably caused by huge bubbles of interstellar gas
being driven by the intense radiation of the stars within the
nebula.

Image data:
Camera: Canon 350 XT (unmodified)
Telescope: William Optics ZS 66mm, Baader MPCC
Mount: LXD-55
Exposure: 30 seconds x 60
Location: Iringa, Tanzania