Our Galaxy’s large molecular cloud W51 in X-rays.
![](http://ahead.astro.noa.gr/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/IMG_3064.jpg)
The molecular cloud known as W51 is one of the closest to Earth at a distance of 17,000 light years. The Chandra X-ray observatory observed this cloud in a long exposure lasting 20 hours. About 600 stars have been detected as well as diffuse interstellar gas with a temperature of millions of degrees.