Credit & Copyright: Johannes Schedler
(Panther Observatory)
Explanation:
East of Antares, dark markings seem
to sprawl through the crowded star fields
toward the center of our Milky Way Galaxy.
Cataloged in the early 20th
century by astronomer
E. E. Barnard, the obscuring
interstellar dust clouds
include
B72,
B77, B78, and B59, seen in silhouette
against the starry background.
Here, their combined shape suggests smoke rising from
a pipe, and so the dark nebula's popular name is the Pipe Nebula.
This gorgeous
and expansive view was recorded in
very dark skies over
Hakos,
Namibia.
It covers a full 10 by 7 degrees field in the
pronounceable
constellation Ophiuchus.
News: Pluto's Two Small Moons
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 - Milky Way - Barnard
Publications with words: dark nebula - Milky Way - Barnard
See also:
- APOD: 2024 November 24 Á Journey to the Center of the Galaxy
- IC 348 and Barnard 3
- APOD: 2024 November 5 Á Milky Way over Easter Island
- APOD: 2024 October 27 Á LDN 43: The Cosmic Bat Nebula
- The Dark Tower in Scorpius
- APOD: 2024 August 4 Á Gaia: Here Comes the Sun
- APOD: 2024 July 29 Á Milky Way over Uluru