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Credit & Copyright: B. Wallis and R.
Provin
Explanation:
What slithers there? The dark curly lanes visible in part of the
constellation
Ophiuchus
belong to the Snake Nebula. The Snake Nebula is a series of
dark absorption clouds.
Interstellar
dust grains - composed predominantly
of carbon - absorb visible starlight and reradiate much of it in the infrared. Infrared is a band of light so red humans can't see it. This
absorption causes stars in the background to be blocked from our view - and
hence the appearance of noticeable voids on the sky.
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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