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Credit & Copyright: Chris Cook
Explanation:
Several
unusual strands of darkness
are prominent toward the constellation of
Aquila.
This particular dark nebula is known as the E Nebula, for its evocative shape,
or B142 and B143, for its position(s) on a list of such nebula compiled by
Barnard.
The E Nebula spans roughly the angle of a
full Moon and lies about 2000 light years distant.
The nebula can be seen with binoculars and is
particularly visible during the summer months in Earth's
northern hemisphere.
Other names for
dark nebula include
absorption nebula, as they efficiently absorb
visible light emitted behind them, and
molecular clouds, as they frequently attain temperatures
low enough so that several different types of stable
molecules can exist.
The low temperatures of these
interstellar clouds
facilitate the formation of
dense knots
of gas that may then collapse into bright stars.
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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
Publications with words: dark nebula
See also: