Dark Cloud
Credit & Copyright: Two Micron All Sky Survey Project
(IPAC /
U. Mass.)
Explanation:
Ominously foreshadowing events to come,
a dark cloud of obscuring dust stands
out against a luminous star field in
the Milky Way.
Cataloged as
Feitzinger and Stuwe object "1-457" this
fuliginous
interstellar nebula is relatively close -
possibly only 1,000 light-years distant.
Near its core it is dense enough to
block almost all of the light from the numerous,
more distant stars visible toward
the galactic center region.
In addition to
dust grains,
dark nebulae which abound in the plane of our
Galaxy are likely to contain
interstellar gas and represent
potential raw material for future star formation.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
