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Credit & Copyright: Robert Gendler
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 the
gorgeous
telescopic view.
Known as a
cometary globule, the swept-back cloud,
extending from the upper right to the head (top of the tower) left and
below center, is shaped by intense ultraviolet radiation from
the OB association of very hot stars
in NGC
6231, off the left 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 small bluish
reflection nebulae.
This dark tower,
NGC 6231, and
associated nebulae are about 5,000 light-years away.
digg_url = 'http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap080508.html'; digg_skin = 'compact';
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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: Scorpius - dark nebula - star formation
Publications with words: Scorpius - dark nebula - star formation
See also:
- NGC 1893 and the Tadpoles of IC 410
- APOD: 2023 November 27 Á LBN 86: The Eagle Ray Nebula
- APOD: 2023 November 20 Á The Horsehead Nebula
- Star Factory Messier 17
- APOD: 2023 August 28 Á Star Formation in the Pacman Nebula
- APOD: 2023 July 10 Á Stars, Dust and Nebula in NGC 6559
- NGC 1333: Stellar Nursery in Perseus