NGC 4449 is an irregular dwarf galaxy that is
part of the Canes Venaticorum group of galaxies some 12 million
light years away. This galaxy is very similar to the Large
Magellanic Cloud in both structure and size. The central part of
the galaxy consists of a population of very young stars which
extend through the galaxy in a bar formation. Astronomers
estimate that these stars are not much older than 5 million
years in age. The numerous red regions are the HII regions that
are currently forming stars. Massive dark clouds of gas and dust
(dark blobs in picture) await future episodes of star formation.
Chains of blue outline the baby-boom of stars in this galaxy.
