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Credit & Copyright: Fabian Neyer
Explanation:
Cosmic dust clouds are draped across a rich field of stars in
this
broad telescopic panorama near the northern boundary of
Corona Australis, the Southern Crown.
Less than 500 light-years away the denser clouds
effectively block light from
more distant background stars in the
Milky Way.
The entire vista spans about 5 degrees or nearly 45 light-years at
the clouds' estimated distance.
Toward the right lies a group of bluish reflection nebulae
cataloged as
NGC 6726, 6727, 6729 and IC 4812.
The characteristic blue color is produced as light
from hot stars is reflected by
the cosmic dust.
The dust also obscures from view stars
in the region
still in the process of formation.
Smaller yellowish nebula NGC 6729 surrounds
young variable star
R
Coronae Australis.
Below it are arcs and loops identified as
Herbig Haro (HH) objects
associated with energetic newborn stars.
Magnificent globular star cluster NGC 6723
is above and right of the nebulae.
Though NGC 6723 appears
to be part
of the group,
its ancient stars actually lie nearly 30,000 light-years away,
far beyond the young stars of the Corona Australis dust clouds.
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Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: dust cloud
Publications with words: dust cloud
See also: