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Credit & Copyright: Jose Mtanos
Explanation:
East of Antares,
dark markings sprawl through 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
B59, B72, B77 and B78,
seen in against the starry background.
Here, their combined shape suggests
a pipe
stem and bowl,
and so the dark nebula's popular name is the Pipe Nebula.
The deep and expansive view
covers a full 10 by 10 degree field in the
pronounceable
constellation Ophiuchus.
The Pipe Nebula is part of the Ophiuchus dark cloud complex
located at a distance of about 450 light-years.
Dense cores
of gas and dust within the Pipe Nebula are collapsing to form stars.
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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: dark nebula - Pipe Nebula
Publications with words: dark nebula - Pipe Nebula
See also: