The star cluster R136 is seen here at the upper right against the background of the spectacular 30 Doradus nebula (also known as the Tarantula Nebula) in the Large Magellanic Cloud. The 30 Doradus nebula is a cloud of glowing interstellar gas, energized by radiation from nearby hot, luminous stars. If the 30 Doradus nebula, which is 169,000 light years away, were put in the place of the Orion Nebula, at a distance of 1,500 light years, it would light up the night sky like a full Moon.
