The Tarantula Nebula ( NGC 2070) is an H II region in the Large Magellanic Cloud.

The Tarantula Nebula has an apparent magnitude of 8. Considering its distance of about160,000 light years, this is an extremely luminous non-stellar object.
Its luminosity is so great that if it were as close to Earth as the Orion Nebula, the Tarantula Nebula would cast shadows.
In fact, it is the most active starburst region known in the Local Group of galaxies.
The nebula resides on the leading edge of the LMC, where ram pressure stripping, and the compression of the interstellar medium likely resulting from this, is at a maximum.
At its core lies the compact star cluster R136 (approximate diameter 35 light years) that produces most of the energy that makes the nebula visible.
The estimated mass of the cluster is 450,000 solar masses, suggesting it will likely become a globular cluster in the future.(WIKI)

Imaged with the 16" f3.75 Dream Astrograph.
Apogee Alta U-16M camera.
HA-RGB image
Ha - 80 min
RGB 10 minutes per channel

(Total of 1:50 HRS)

Imaged from Tivoli farm in Namibia June 2012.