APOD: 2026 May 20 Б The Dark Wolf Nebula
Explanation:
A dark wolf lies in gum. No, this isnБt a riddle!
Today's image
features
the Dark Wolf Nebula
(SandqvistБLindroos
17),
a spooky dust cloud embedded within the
Gum 55
(RCW 113)
Nebula in
the Scorpius constellation.
While
dust
is a pest to us, it serves a vital role in creating the necessary conditions for
stars to be born.
The Dark Wolf absorbs the intense
ultraviolet and
visible
light emitted by young stars in Gum 55 and re-emits it at longer, mainly
infrared,
wavelengths. This prevents the higher energy light from heating up the gas in the
region. When a region of gas
is cool enough, gravity takes over and causes the gas to collapse into a star. Not
only does
dust
act as an interstellar thermostat, but it is also
the meet-cute
for single hydrogen atoms forming molecular hydrogen, the building block for stars.
The seemingly sinister Dark Wolf is actually a harbinger of cosmic life.
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.
