An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
English-French-Persian

The largest and brightest → H II region in the → Large Magellanic Cloud. This → giant H II region has a diameter of over 800 → light-years, and contains half a million → solar masses of ionized gas. The ionization is produced by several clusters of → O-type and → B-type stars, including the very powerful and compact cluster → R136 near its centre. The nebula's name comes from its spider-like shape. Also known as → 30 Doradus and NGC 2070.

Tarantula "any of several large, hairy spiders of the family Theraphosidae," from M.L. tarantula, from It. tarantola, from Taranto "seaport city in southern Italy in the region where the spiders are frequently found," from L. Tarentum, from Gk. Taras; → nebula.

Miq, → nebula; roteyl "large, hairy spider, tarantula."