|
Credit & Copyright: Don Goldman
Explanation:
In silhouette against a crowded star field
toward the constellation
Scorpius,
this dusty cosmic cloud evokes for some the image of an
ominous
dark tower.
In fact, clumps of dust and molecular gas
collapsing
to form stars may well lurk within the dark nebula,
a structure that spans almost 40 light-years across this
gorgeous telescopic portrait.
Known as a
cometary globule, the swept-back cloud,
extending from the lower right to the head (top of the tower) left and
above center, is shaped by intense ultraviolet radiation from
the OB association of very hot
stars
in NGC
6231, off the upper edge of the scene.
That energetic ultraviolet light also powers the globule's bordering
reddish glow of hydrogen gas.
Hot stars embedded in the dust
can be seen as bluish
reflection nebulae.
This dark tower,
NGC 6231, and
associated nebulae are about 5,000 light-years away.
|
January February March April May June July August September October November December |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: dark nebula - dust cloud - young stars - OB association
Publications with words: dark nebula - dust cloud - young stars - OB association
See also:
- APOD: 2024 September 24 Á NGC 6727: The Rampaging Baboon Nebula
- The Dark Tower in Scorpius
- APOD: 2024 July 22 Á Chamaeleon Dark Nebulas
- APOD: 2024 June 25 Á The Dark Doodad Nebula
- APOD: 2023 November 27 Á LBN 86: The Eagle Ray Nebula
- APOD: 2023 November 20 Á The Horsehead Nebula
- Galactic Cirrus: Mandel Wilson 9