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Images of 'Molecular Cloud' found, 77

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Nebula of the Eagle (IC 4703) in the Snake - detail - Star - birth in the Eagle nebula. - The Pillars of Creation “” is undoubtedly the most famous image realized by the Hubble space telescope, obtained in 1995. 20 years later, the same telescope rephotographed this region with more finesse. These cold gas columns are home to star embryos. The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has revisited one of its most iconic and popular images: the Eagle Nebula's Pillars of Creation. This image shows the pillars as seen in visible light, capturing the multi - coloured glow of gas clouds, wispy tendrils of dark cosmic dust, and the rust - colored elephants trunks of the nebula's famous pillars. The dust and gas in the pillars is seared by the intense radiation from young stars and eroded by strong winds from massive nearby stars. With these new images comes better contrast and a clearer view for astronomers to study how the structure of the pillars is changing over time.

Nebula of the Eagle (IC 4703) in the Snake - detail - Star - birth in the Eagle nebula. - The Pillars of Creation “” is undoubtedly the most famous image realized by the Hubble space telescope, obtained in 1995. 20 years later, the same telescope rephotographed this region with more finesse. These cold gas columns are home to star embryos. The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has revisited one of its most iconic and popular images: the Eagle Nebula's Pillars of Creation. This image shows the pillars as seen in visible light, capturing the multi - coloured glow of gas clouds, wispy tendrils of dark cosmic dust, and the rust - colored elephants trunks of the nebula's famous pillars. The dust and gas in the pillars is seared by the intense radiation from young stars and eroded by strong winds from massive nearby stars. With these new images comes better contrast and a clearer view for astronomers to study how the structure of the pillars is changing over time.

PIX4620070

Mars Planet Passage (middle left of the image) in front of the nebula Rho Ophiuchi on August 25, 2016 - This star-forming region is located about 520 light years away. The brightest star below is the star Antares, from the Scorpio. Right, star cluster M4 - Mars passing the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex on Aug 25, 2016 - This star-forming region is located at about 520 light years in Scorpius constellation. The area is highlighted by the bright star Antares (bottom), a red supergiant 40,000 times more luminous than our sun

Mars Planet Passage (middle left of the image) in front of the nebula Rho Ophiuchi on August 25, 2016 - This star-forming region is located about 520 light years away. The brightest star below is the star Antares, from the Scorpio. Right, star cluster M4 - Mars passing the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex on Aug 25, 2016 - This star-forming region is located at about 520 light years in Scorpius constellation. The area is highlighted by the bright star Antares (bottom), a red supergiant 40,000 times more luminous than our sun

Sebastian Voltmer

PIX4650987

Dust in Iris Nebula - Dust in Iris Nebula - The Iris Nebula (NGC 7023) is a reflexion nebula illuminated by the star HD 200775. This image obtained by the Hubble Space Telescope shows a detail of the nebula or HD star 200775 (at the top of the image, out of the field) illuminates tiny particles of dust. This close - up of an area in the northwest region of the large Iris Nebula (NGC 7023) seems to be clogged with cosmic dust. With bright light from the nearby star HD 200775 illuminating it from above, the dust resemble thick mounds of billowing cotton. It is actually made up of tiny particles of solid matter, with sizes from ten to a hundred times smaller than those of the dust grains we find at home. Both background and foreground stars are dotted throughout the image. North is down, East is right. The field of view is 3.3 arcminutes. The image is a composite of four images obtained by the Hubble space Telescope through blue, green, near - infrared and H - alpha filters

Dust in Iris Nebula - Dust in Iris Nebula - The Iris Nebula (NGC 7023) is a reflexion nebula illuminated by the star HD 200775. This image obtained by the Hubble Space Telescope shows a detail of the nebula or HD star 200775 (at the top of the image, out of the field) illuminates tiny particles of dust. This close - up of an area in the northwest region of the large Iris Nebula (NGC 7023) seems to be clogged with cosmic dust. With bright light from the nearby star HD 200775 illuminating it from above, the dust resemble thick mounds of billowing cotton. It is actually made up of tiny particles of solid matter, with sizes from ten to a hundred times smaller than those of the dust grains we find at home. Both background and foreground stars are dotted throughout the image. North is down, East is right. The field of view is 3.3 arcminutes. The image is a composite of four images obtained by the Hubble space Telescope through blue, green, near - infrared and H - alpha filters

PIX4620558

Southern cross and Coal Sack nebula - The coal bag located near the Southern Cross is a molecular cloud of a high concentration of gas and dust that absorbs almost all the visible light emitted by the stars in the background. The Coal Sack is a large dark patch lying in very rich star field of the milky way. It is a dark nebula, an interstellar dust cloud obscuring the light of the stars behind it

Southern cross and Coal Sack nebula - The coal bag located near the Southern Cross is a molecular cloud of a high concentration of gas and dust that absorbs almost all the visible light emitted by the stars in the background. The Coal Sack is a large dark patch lying in very rich star field of the milky way. It is a dark nebula, an interstellar dust cloud obscuring the light of the stars behind it

Stephane Guisard

PIX4590270

Nebula NGC 7023 in Cephee - Iris Nebula in Cepheus - The nebula of the Iris (NGC 7023) is a reflexion nebula illuminated by the star HD 200775. Infrared observations indicate that this nebula contains PAH (aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons), molecules composed of carbon atoms and hydrogen. NGC 7023 (The Iris Nebula) is located 1400 Light Years away. The bright star HD 200775 shining through the nebula NGC 7023 is a 10 solar mass star centrally imbedded in a region surrounded by ambient molecular cloud material. Infrared observations indicate that this nebula may contain complex carbon molecules known as PaHS

Nebula NGC 7023 in Cephee - Iris Nebula in Cepheus - The nebula of the Iris (NGC 7023) is a reflexion nebula illuminated by the star HD 200775. Infrared observations indicate that this nebula contains PAH (aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons), molecules composed of carbon atoms and hydrogen. NGC 7023 (The Iris Nebula) is located 1400 Light Years away. The bright star HD 200775 shining through the nebula NGC 7023 is a 10 solar mass star centrally imbedded in a region surrounded by ambient molecular cloud material. Infrared observations indicate that this nebula may contain complex carbon molecules known as PaHS

Tom Davis

PIX4620553

Dark nebula and globular cluster NGC 4372 - Dark nebula and globular cluster NGC 4372 - HMSTG 436 is a molecular cloud visible near the globular cluster NGC 4372 (on the right, above the bright star Gamma Musca) in the southern constellation of the Fly. HMSTG 436 is a linear molecular cloud in the southern constellation Musca, the fly. It is easily found by targeting the globular cluster NGC 4372, visible at right, above the bright star gamma Musca

Dark nebula and globular cluster NGC 4372 - Dark nebula and globular cluster NGC 4372 - HMSTG 436 is a molecular cloud visible near the globular cluster NGC 4372 (on the right, above the bright star Gamma Musca) in the southern constellation of the Fly. HMSTG 436 is a linear molecular cloud in the southern constellation Musca, the fly. It is easily found by targeting the globular cluster NGC 4372, visible at right, above the bright star gamma Musca

Tom Davis

PIX4621162

Nebuleuse Barnard 86 & open cluster NGC 6520 - Dark nebula Barnard 86 and open cluster NGC 6520 - NGC 6520, is a cluster of young stars aged a few million years. To its right is the dark nebula, Barnard 86, a cloud of molecular gas and dust, very cold, in which these stars have become formed. In the background, the billions of years old stars of Sagittarius. NGC 6520 is a small cluster of young blue stars. In the same region is a dark cloud, Barnard 86. The cluster and cloud are probably associated and the dust is visible only because it blocks out light from the myriads of stars beyond. On the distant background, old yellowish stars in Sagittarius are visible in vast numbers

Nebuleuse Barnard 86 & open cluster NGC 6520 - Dark nebula Barnard 86 and open cluster NGC 6520 - NGC 6520, is a cluster of young stars aged a few million years. To its right is the dark nebula, Barnard 86, a cloud of molecular gas and dust, very cold, in which these stars have become formed. In the background, the billions of years old stars of Sagittarius. NGC 6520 is a small cluster of young blue stars. In the same region is a dark cloud, Barnard 86. The cluster and cloud are probably associated and the dust is visible only because it blocks out light from the myriads of stars beyond. On the distant background, old yellowish stars in Sagittarius are visible in vast numbers

R. Gendler

PIX4621354

Nebuleuse Barnard 86 & open cluster NGC 6520 - Dark nebula Barnard 86 and open cluster NGC 6520 - NGC 6520, is a cluster of young stars, aged a few million years. To its right is the dark nebula, Barnard 86, a cloud of molecular gas and dust, very cold, in which these stars have become formed. In the background, the billions of years old stars of Sagittarius. NGC 6520 is a small cluster of young blue stars. In the same region is a dark cloud, Barnard 86. The cluster and cloud are probably associated and the dust is visible only because it blocks out light from the myriads of stars beyond. On the distant background, old yellowish stars in Sagittarius are visible in vast numbers

Nebuleuse Barnard 86 & open cluster NGC 6520 - Dark nebula Barnard 86 and open cluster NGC 6520 - NGC 6520, is a cluster of young stars, aged a few million years. To its right is the dark nebula, Barnard 86, a cloud of molecular gas and dust, very cold, in which these stars have become formed. In the background, the billions of years old stars of Sagittarius. NGC 6520 is a small cluster of young blue stars. In the same region is a dark cloud, Barnard 86. The cluster and cloud are probably associated and the dust is visible only because it blocks out light from the myriads of stars beyond. On the distant background, old yellowish stars in Sagittarius are visible in vast numbers

PIX4621326

Antares star and the Rho Ophiuchi nebula - This coloree nebula represents the visible part of a very large molecule cloud, the Ophiuchus cloud. This star-forming region is located about 520 light years away. The brightest star below is the star Antares, from the Scorpio. On the right, the M4 star cluster. View of the region surrounding the bright triple star Rho Ophiuchus (in the blue cloud). This star-forming region is located at about 520 light years in Scorpius constellation. The area is highlighted by the bright star Antares (bottom), a red supergiant 40,000 times more luminous than our sun

Antares star and the Rho Ophiuchi nebula - This coloree nebula represents the visible part of a very large molecule cloud, the Ophiuchus cloud. This star-forming region is located about 520 light years away. The brightest star below is the star Antares, from the Scorpio. On the right, the M4 star cluster. View of the region surrounding the bright triple star Rho Ophiuchus (in the blue cloud). This star-forming region is located at about 520 light years in Scorpius constellation. The area is highlighted by the bright star Antares (bottom), a red supergiant 40,000 times more luminous than our sun

Alex Conu

PIX4580154

Nebuleuse Barnard 86 & open cluster NGC 6520 - Dark nebula Barnard 86 and open cluster NGC 6520 - NGC 6520, in the center of the image, is a cluster of young stars, aged a few million years. To its right is the dark nebula, Barnard 86, a cloud of molecular gas and dust, very cold, in which stars form. In the background, the billions of years old stars of Sagittarius. NGC 6520 is a young star cluster formed only millions of years ago. Besides, the dark nebula Barnard 86, a molecular cloud, very cold, from which the stars of NGC 6520 surely formed. All around them, oldest stars, which are billions of years old, form the star clouds of Sagittarius in the southern Milky Way and are in orbit around the inner part of the Galaxy. They are cool and yellow

Nebuleuse Barnard 86 & open cluster NGC 6520 - Dark nebula Barnard 86 and open cluster NGC 6520 - NGC 6520, in the center of the image, is a cluster of young stars, aged a few million years. To its right is the dark nebula, Barnard 86, a cloud of molecular gas and dust, very cold, in which stars form. In the background, the billions of years old stars of Sagittarius. NGC 6520 is a young star cluster formed only millions of years ago. Besides, the dark nebula Barnard 86, a molecular cloud, very cold, from which the stars of NGC 6520 surely formed. All around them, oldest stars, which are billions of years old, form the star clouds of Sagittarius in the southern Milky Way and are in orbit around the inner part of the Galaxy. They are cool and yellow

PIX4621322

Orion nebula centre - Trapeze - Orion nebula center - Mosaic of images obtained by the space telescope in 1994 and 1995 showing the center of Orion nebula, the region around the Trapeze, a cluster of 4 very young and massive stars that make this nebula shine. The picture shows a churning turbulent star factory set within a maelstrom of flowing, luminescent gas. Although this 2.5 light - years wide view is still a small portion of the entire Orion nebula, it includes almost all of the light from the bright glowing clouds of gas and a star cluster associated with the nebula. Hubble reveals details as small as 4.1 billion miles across. Hubble Space Telescope observing time was devoted to making this panorama because the nebula is a vast laboratory for studying the processes which gave birth to our own Sun and solar system 4.5 billion years ago. Gas are illuminated and heated by a torrent of energetic ultraviolet light from its four hottest and most massive stars, called the Trapezium, which lie near the center of the image. In addition to the Trapezium, this stellar cavern contains 700 hundred other young stars at various stages of formation. High - speed jets of hot gas spewed by some of the infant stars send supersonic shock waves tearing into the nebula at 100,000 miles per hour. These shock waves appear as thin curved loops, sometimes with bright knots on their end (the brightest examples are near the bright star at the lower left). The mosaic reveals at least 153 glowing protoplanetary disks (first discovered with the Hubble in 1992, and dubbed “” proplyds”) that are believed to be embryonic solar systems that will eventually form planets. (Our solar system has long been considered the relic of just such a disk that formed around the newborn Sun). The abundance of such objects in the Orion nebula strengthens the argument that planet formation is a common occurrence in the universe. The proplyds that are closest to the Trapezium stars (image c — Orion nebula centre - Trapeze - Orion nebula center - Mosaic of images obtained by the space telescope in 1994 and 1995 showing the center of Orion nebula, the region around the Trapeze, a cluster of 4 very young and massive stars that make this nebula shine. The picture shows a churning turbulent star factory set within a maelstrom of flowing, luminescent gas. Although this 2.5 light - years wide view is still a small portion of the entire Orion nebula, it includes almost all of the light from the bright glowing clouds of gas and a star cluster associated with the nebula. Hubble reveals details as small as 4.1 billion miles across. Hubble Space Telescope observing time was devoted to making this panorama because the nebula is a vast laboratory for studying the processes which gave birth to our own Sun and solar system 4.5 billion years ago. Gas are illuminated and heated by a torrent of energetic ultraviolet light from its four hottest and most massive stars, called the Trapezium, whi

Orion nebula centre - Trapeze - Orion nebula center - Mosaic of images obtained by the space telescope in 1994 and 1995 showing the center of Orion nebula, the region around the Trapeze, a cluster of 4 very young and massive stars that make this nebula shine. The picture shows a churning turbulent star factory set within a maelstrom of flowing, luminescent gas. Although this 2.5 light - years wide view is still a small portion of the entire Orion nebula, it includes almost all of the light from the bright glowing clouds of gas and a star cluster associated with the nebula. Hubble reveals details as small as 4.1 billion miles across. Hubble Space Telescope observing time was devoted to making this panorama because the nebula is a vast laboratory for studying the processes which gave birth to our own Sun and solar system 4.5 billion years ago. Gas are illuminated and heated by a torrent of energetic ultraviolet light from its four hottest and most massive stars, called the Trapezium, whi

PIX4617855

Detail in the nebula Omega (M17) - Part of M17 nebula - Detail in the nebula Omega (M17), a region of star formation. Image obtained from the 3.5-metre NTT telescope of the European Observatory of La Silla in Chile. The Omega Nebula (M17) is one of the youngest and most massive star - forming regions in the Milky Way. Active star - birth started a few million years ago and continues through today. The brightly shining gas shown in this picture is just a blister erupting from the side of a much larger dark cloud of molecular gas. The dust that is so prominent in this picture comes from the remains of massive hot stars that have ended their brief lives and ejected material back into space, as well as the cosmic detritus from which future suns form. Three - colour composite image of the Omega Nebula (Messier 17), based on images obtained with the EMMI instrument on the ESO 3.58 - metre New Technology Telescope at the La Silla Observatory. North is down and East is to the right in the image. It spans an angle equal to about one third the diameter of the Full Moon, corresponding to about 15 light - years at the distance of the Omega Nebula — Detail in the nebula Omega (M17) - Part of M17 nebula - Detail in the nebula Omega (M17), a region of star formation. Image obtained from the 3.5-metre NTT telescope of the European Observatory of La Silla in Chile. The Omega Nebula (M17) is one of the youngest and most massive star - forming regions in the Milky Way. Active star - birth started a few million years ago and continues through today. The brightly shining gas shown in this picture is just a blister erupting from the side of a much larger dark cloud of molecular gas. The dust that is so prominent in this picture comes from the remains of massive hot stars that have ended their brief lives and ejected material back into space, as well as the cosmic detritus from which future suns form. Three - colour composite image of the Omega Nebula (Messier 17), based on images obtained with the EMMI instrument on the ESO 3.58 - metre New Technology Telescope at the La Silla Observatory. North is down and East is to the right in the imag

Detail in the nebula Omega (M17) - Part of M17 nebula - Detail in the nebula Omega (M17), a region of star formation. Image obtained from the 3.5-metre NTT telescope of the European Observatory of La Silla in Chile. The Omega Nebula (M17) is one of the youngest and most massive star - forming regions in the Milky Way. Active star - birth started a few million years ago and continues through today. The brightly shining gas shown in this picture is just a blister erupting from the side of a much larger dark cloud of molecular gas. The dust that is so prominent in this picture comes from the remains of massive hot stars that have ended their brief lives and ejected material back into space, as well as the cosmic detritus from which future suns form. Three - colour composite image of the Omega Nebula (Messier 17), based on images obtained with the EMMI instrument on the ESO 3.58 - metre New Technology Telescope at the La Silla Observatory. North is down and East is to the right in the imag

PIX4620256

Eagle Nebula (IC 4703) in the Snake - detail - Young stars in the Eagle nebula - Detail on young stars located in the north - west part of the Eagle Nebula (M16). Image obtained by the Hubble Space Telescope. This picture shows the northwestern part of the Eagle nebula (M16), well away from the centre, and features some very bright young stars that formed from the same cloud of material. These energetic toddlers are part of an open cluster and emit ultraviolet radiation that causes the surrounding nebula to glow. The star cluster is very bright and was discovered in the mid - eighteenth century. The nebula, however, is much more elusive and it took almost a further two decades for it to be first noted by Charles Messier in 1764. Although it is commonly known as the Eagle Nebula, its official designation is Messier 16 and the cluster is also named NGC 6611. One spectacular area of the nebula (outside the field of view) has been nicknamed The Pillars of Creation”” ever since the Hubble Space Telescope captured an iconic image of dramatic pillars of star - forming gas and dust. The cluster and nebula are fascinating targets for small and medium - sized telescopes, particularly from a dark site free from light pollution. Messier 16 can be found within the constellation of Serpens Cauda (the Tail of the Serpent), which is sandwiched between Aquila, Sagittarius, and Ophiuchus in the heart of one of the brightest parts of the Milky Way. Small telescopes with low power are useful for observing large, but faint, swathes of the nebula, whereas 30 cm telescopes and larger may reveal the dark pillars under good conditions. But a space telescope in orbit around the Earth, like Hubble - - which boasts a 2.4 - metre diameter mirror and state - of - the - art instruments - - is required for an image as spectacular as this one. This picture was created from images taken with the Wide Field Channel of Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys. Images through a — Eagle Nebula (IC 4703) in the Snake - detail - Young stars in the Eagle nebula - Detail on young stars located in the north - west part of the Eagle Nebula (M16). Image obtained by the Hubble Space Telescope. This picture shows the northwestern part of the Eagle nebula (M16), well away from the centre, and features some very bright young stars that formed from the same cloud of material. These energetic toddlers are part of an open cluster and emit ultraviolet radiation that causes the surrounding nebula to glow. The star cluster is very bright and was discovered in the mid - eighteenth century. The nebula, however, is much more elusive and it took almost a further two decades for it to be first noted by Charles Messier in 1764. Although it is commonly known as the Eagle Nebula, its official designation is Messier 16 and the cluster is also named NGC 6611. One spectacular area of the nebula (outside the field of view) has been nicknamed The Pillars of Creation”” ever since the Hubble S

Eagle Nebula (IC 4703) in the Snake - detail - Young stars in the Eagle nebula - Detail on young stars located in the north - west part of the Eagle Nebula (M16). Image obtained by the Hubble Space Telescope. This picture shows the northwestern part of the Eagle nebula (M16), well away from the centre, and features some very bright young stars that formed from the same cloud of material. These energetic toddlers are part of an open cluster and emit ultraviolet radiation that causes the surrounding nebula to glow. The star cluster is very bright and was discovered in the mid - eighteenth century. The nebula, however, is much more elusive and it took almost a further two decades for it to be first noted by Charles Messier in 1764. Although it is commonly known as the Eagle Nebula, its official designation is Messier 16 and the cluster is also named NGC 6611. One spectacular area of the nebula (outside the field of view) has been nicknamed The Pillars of Creation”” ever since the Hubble S

PIX4620062

Horse's Head Nebula - The Horsehead nebula in Orion - The Horse's Head Nebula, Barnard 33, is a dark nebula located in front of the IC 434 emission nebula at about 1500 years - light of the Earth in the constellation Orion. Lower left is the reflexion nebula, NGC 2023. The Horsehead nebula is located in the constellation of Orion, slightly below the left - most star of the three that form the Hunter's belt. It is part of a vast molecular cloud of dust and gas that includes the Great Orion Nebula and extends throughout the entire constellation as well. Here we see the Horsehead as it appeared 1,500 years ago, due to distance and the time it takes light to travel

Horse's Head Nebula - The Horsehead nebula in Orion - The Horse's Head Nebula, Barnard 33, is a dark nebula located in front of the IC 434 emission nebula at about 1500 years - light of the Earth in the constellation Orion. Lower left is the reflexion nebula, NGC 2023. The Horsehead nebula is located in the constellation of Orion, slightly below the left - most star of the three that form the Hunter's belt. It is part of a vast molecular cloud of dust and gas that includes the Great Orion Nebula and extends throughout the entire constellation as well. Here we see the Horsehead as it appeared 1,500 years ago, due to distance and the time it takes light to travel

Adam Block

PIX4622102

Horse's Head Nebula and IC 434 in Orion - The Horsehead nebula in Orion - The Horse's Head Nebula, Barnard 33, is a dark nebula located in front of the IC 434 emitting nebula about 1500 years - Earth light in the constellation Orion. Lower left is the reflexion nebula, NGC 2023. The Horsehead nebula is located in the constellation of Orion, slightly below the left - most star of the three that form the Hunter's belt. It is part of a vast molecular cloud of dust and gas that includes the Great Orion Nebula and extends throughout the entire constellation as well. Here, we see the Horsehead as it appeared 1,500 years ago, due to distance and the time it takes light to travel. The bright complex of dust and gas below the Horsehead reflects the light given off by the bright star near it's center and is one of the brightest examples of reflection nebulae in the northern sky. The central star is surrounded with a thin shell of hydrogen that glows red by emitting it's own light in a rare example of a unique process called vibrational fluorescence — Horse's Head Nebula and IC 434 in Orion - The Horsehead nebula in Orion - The Horse's Head Nebula, Barnard 33, is a dark nebula located in front of the IC 434 emitting nebula about 1500 years - Earth light in the constellation Orion. Lower left is the reflexion nebula, NGC 2023. The Horsehead nebula is located in the constellation of Orion, slightly below the left - most star of the three that form the Hunter's belt. It is part of a vast molecular cloud of dust and gas that includes the Great Orion Nebula and extends throughout the entire constellation as well. Here, we see the Horsehead as it appeared 1,500 years ago, due to distance and the time it takes light to travel. The bright complex of dust and gas below the Horsehead reflects the light given off by the bright star near it's center and is one of the brightest examples of reflection nebulae in the northern sky. The central star is surrounded with a thin shell of hydrogen that glows red by emitting it's own light in a rare examp

Horse's Head Nebula and IC 434 in Orion - The Horsehead nebula in Orion - The Horse's Head Nebula, Barnard 33, is a dark nebula located in front of the IC 434 emitting nebula about 1500 years - Earth light in the constellation Orion. Lower left is the reflexion nebula, NGC 2023. The Horsehead nebula is located in the constellation of Orion, slightly below the left - most star of the three that form the Hunter's belt. It is part of a vast molecular cloud of dust and gas that includes the Great Orion Nebula and extends throughout the entire constellation as well. Here, we see the Horsehead as it appeared 1,500 years ago, due to distance and the time it takes light to travel. The bright complex of dust and gas below the Horsehead reflects the light given off by the bright star near it's center and is one of the brightest examples of reflection nebulae in the northern sky. The central star is surrounded with a thin shell of hydrogen that glows red by emitting it's own light in a rare examp

R. Jay GaBany

PIX4622130

Stars cluster in the Nebula of the Eagle - Young stars in the Eagle nebula - Detail on young stars located in the cluster of stars NGC 6611 of the Nebula of the Eagle (M16). Image obtained by the Hubble Space Telescope. A spectacular section of the well - known Eagle Nebula has been targeted by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. This collection of dazzling stars is called NGC 6611, an open star cluster that formed about 5.5 million years ago and is found approximately 6500 light - years from the Earth. It is a very young cluster, containing many hot, blue stars, whose fierce ultraviolet glow make the surrounding Eagle Nebula glow brightly. The cluster and the associated nebula together are also known as Messier 16. Astronomers refer to areas like the Eagle Nebula as HII regions. This is the scientific notation for ionised hydrogen from which the region is largely made. Extrapolating far into the future, this HII region will eventually disperse, helped along by shockwaves from supernova explosions as the more massive young stars end their brief but brilliant lives. In this image, dark patches can also be spotted, punctuating the stellar landscape. These areas of apparent nothingness are actually very dense regions of gas and dust, which obstruct light from passing through. Many of these may be hiding the sites of the early stages of star formation, before the fledgling stars clear away their surroundings and burst into view. Dark nebulae, large and small, are dotted throughout the Universe. If you look up to the Milky Way with the naked eye from a dark, remote site, you can easily spot some huge dark nebulae blocking the background starlight. This picture was created from images from Hubble's Wide Field Channel of the Advanced Camera for Surveys through the unusual combination of two near - infrared filters (F775W, coloured blue, and F850LP, coloured red). The image has also been subtly colourised using a ground - based image taken through more convention — Stars cluster in the Nebula of the Eagle - Young stars in the Eagle nebula - Detail on young stars located in the cluster of stars NGC 6611 of the Nebula of the Eagle (M16). Image obtained by the Hubble Space Telescope. A spectacular section of the well - known Eagle Nebula has been targeted by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. This collection of dazzling stars is called NGC 6611, an open star cluster that formed about 5.5 million years ago and is found approximately 6500 light - years from the Earth. It is a very young cluster, containing many hot, blue stars, whose fierce ultraviolet glow make the surrounding Eagle Nebula glow brightly. The cluster and the associated nebula together are also known as Messier 16. Astronomers refer to areas like the Eagle Nebula as HII regions. This is the scientific notation for ionised hydrogen from which the region is largely made. Extrapolating far into the future, this HII region will eventually disperse, helped along by shockwaves from superno

Stars cluster in the Nebula of the Eagle - Young stars in the Eagle nebula - Detail on young stars located in the cluster of stars NGC 6611 of the Nebula of the Eagle (M16). Image obtained by the Hubble Space Telescope. A spectacular section of the well - known Eagle Nebula has been targeted by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. This collection of dazzling stars is called NGC 6611, an open star cluster that formed about 5.5 million years ago and is found approximately 6500 light - years from the Earth. It is a very young cluster, containing many hot, blue stars, whose fierce ultraviolet glow make the surrounding Eagle Nebula glow brightly. The cluster and the associated nebula together are also known as Messier 16. Astronomers refer to areas like the Eagle Nebula as HII regions. This is the scientific notation for ionised hydrogen from which the region is largely made. Extrapolating far into the future, this HII region will eventually disperse, helped along by shockwaves from superno

PIX4620069

Taurus Molecular Cloud - Taurus Molecular Cloud - This region is located on the border of the Taurus and Persee constellations. Covering about 20 x 30 degres, this image shows a complex of emitted nebulae, star clusters, reflexion nebulae and dark nebulae. A molecular cloud is a region of dense gas and dust composed mainly of molecular hydrogen and helium. It's a birthplace of stars. The Molecular Cloud of Taurus is located about 400 years ago - light, and is one of the closest molecular clouds to our solar system. The California Nebula (NGC 1499), an emission nebula located about 1000 years ago - is visible at the top right. The dark nebulae B7, B18 and B19 are visible near the center of the image. Les Pleiades, M45, is the open cluster at the bottom right center. The open clusters NGC 1817, NGC 1746, NGC 1647 are on the left side of the image. The Hyades, Melotte 25, is a V-shaped cluster at the bottom left. It is the closest open cluster, located at a distance of about 151 light years. Aldebaran, Alpha Tauri, a bright red star with a magnitude of 0.75 to 0.95, is located at one end of the V, but does not belong to the cluster. The Taurus Molecular Cloud (TMC) is located on the border of the constellations of Taurus and Perseus. It is a large dense area of gas and dust in space made mostly of molecular hydrogen and helium. It is a birth place of stars, which form from the material in the cloud. Covering about 20 x 30 degrees, this wide - angle image shows a complex of bright red emission nebulae, star clusters, blue reflection nebulosity, and complex dark nebulae. The TMC is located about 400 light years away, and is one of the closest molecular clouds to our solar system. The California Nebula (NGC 1499), a very large red emission nebula, is at upper right. Emission nebulae are made up of glowing hydrogen gas. Located in — Taurus Molecular Cloud - Taurus Molecular Cloud - This region is located on the border of the Taurus and Persee constellations. Covering about 20 x 30 degres, this image shows a complex of emitted nebulae, star clusters, reflexion nebulae and dark nebulae. A molecular cloud is a region of dense gas and dust composed mainly of molecular hydrogen and helium. It's a birthplace of stars. The Molecular Cloud of Taurus is located about 400 years ago - light, and is one of the closest molecular clouds to our solar system. The California Nebula (NGC 1499), an emission nebula located about 1000 years ago - is visible at the top right. The dark nebulae B7, B18 and B19 are visible near the center of the image. Les Pleiades, M45, is the open cluster at the bottom right center. The open clusters NGC 1817, NGC 1746, NGC 1647 are on the left side of the image. The Hyades, Melotte 25, is a V-shaped cluster at the bottom left. It is the closest open cluster, located at a distance of about 151 light yea

Taurus Molecular Cloud - Taurus Molecular Cloud - This region is located on the border of the Taurus and Persee constellations. Covering about 20 x 30 degres, this image shows a complex of emitted nebulae, star clusters, reflexion nebulae and dark nebulae. A molecular cloud is a region of dense gas and dust composed mainly of molecular hydrogen and helium. It's a birthplace of stars. The Molecular Cloud of Taurus is located about 400 years ago - light, and is one of the closest molecular clouds to our solar system. The California Nebula (NGC 1499), an emission nebula located about 1000 years ago - is visible at the top right. The dark nebulae B7, B18 and B19 are visible near the center of the image. Les Pleiades, M45, is the open cluster at the bottom right center. The open clusters NGC 1817, NGC 1746, NGC 1647 are on the left side of the image. The Hyades, Melotte 25, is a V-shaped cluster at the bottom left. It is the closest open cluster, located at a distance of about 151 light yea

Jerry Lodriguss

PIX4621177

Star Antares and the nebula Rho Ophiuchi - Antares and Rho Ophiuchi - This coloree nebula represents the visible part of a very large molecule cloud, the cloud of Ophiuchus. This star-forming region is about 520 years old - light. The brightest star below is the star Antares, from the Scorpio. On the right, the M4 star cluster. View of the region surrounding the bright triple star Rho Ophiuchus (top, in the blue cloud). This star - forming region is located at about 520 light years in Scorpius constellation. The area is highlighted by the bright star Antares (bottom), a red supergiant 40,000 times more luminous than our su

Star Antares and the nebula Rho Ophiuchi - Antares and Rho Ophiuchi - This coloree nebula represents the visible part of a very large molecule cloud, the cloud of Ophiuchus. This star-forming region is about 520 years old - light. The brightest star below is the star Antares, from the Scorpio. On the right, the M4 star cluster. View of the region surrounding the bright triple star Rho Ophiuchus (top, in the blue cloud). This star - forming region is located at about 520 light years in Scorpius constellation. The area is highlighted by the bright star Antares (bottom), a red supergiant 40,000 times more luminous than our su

Sebastian Voltmer

PIX4621497

The Rho Ophiuchi nebula seen in infrared - Rho Ophiuchi in infrared - This coloree nebula represents part of a very vast molecular cloud, the Ophiuchus cloud. This star-forming region is about 520 years old - light. The triple star Rho Ophiuchus is located in the top center of the image. Below, a very bright nebula is visible, accompanied by a group of very young stars. At the bottom right, surrounded by a reddish nebula, the star Sigma Scorpii. The globular clusters NGC 6144 (bottom, center of the image) and M80 (top right of the image) are also visible on this infrared image obtained from the Wide - field Infrared Explorer (WISE) satellite. A rich collection of colorful astronomical objects is revealed in this picturesque image of the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex from Nasa's Wide - field Infrared Explorer, or WISE. The Rho Ophiuchi cloud (pronounced 'oh - fee - yoo - ki' and named after a bright star in the region) is found rising above the plane of the Milky Way in the night sky, bordering the constellations Ophiuchus and Scorpius. It's one of the nearest star - forming regions to Earth, allowing us to resolve much more detail than in more distant similar regions, like the Orion nebula. The amazing variety of colors seen in this image represents different wavelengths of infrared light. The bright white nebula in the center of the image is glowing due to heating from nearby stars, resulting in what is called an emission nebula. The same is true for most of the multi - hued gas prevalent throughout the entire image, including the bluish, bow - shaped feature near the bottom right. The bright red area in the bottom right is light from the star in the center - - Sigma Scorpii - - that is reflected off of the dust surrounding it, creating what is called a reflection nebula. And the much darker areas scattered throughout the image are pockets of cool, dense gas that block out the background light, resulting in — The Rho Ophiuchi nebula seen in infrared - Rho Ophiuchi in infrared - This coloree nebula represents part of a very vast molecular cloud, the Ophiuchus cloud. This star-forming region is about 520 years old - light. The triple star Rho Ophiuchus is located in the top center of the image. Below, a very bright nebula is visible, accompanied by a group of very young stars. At the bottom right, surrounded by a reddish nebula, the star Sigma Scorpii. The globular clusters NGC 6144 (bottom, center of the image) and M80 (top right of the image) are also visible on this infrared image obtained from the Wide - field Infrared Explorer (WISE) satellite. A rich collection of colorful astronomical objects is revealed in this picturesque image of the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex from Nasa's Wide - field Infrared Explorer, or WISE. The Rho Ophiuchi cloud (pronounced 'oh - fee - yoo - ki' and named after a bright star in the region) is found rising above the plane of the Milky Way in the night sky, bord

The Rho Ophiuchi nebula seen in infrared - Rho Ophiuchi in infrared - This coloree nebula represents part of a very vast molecular cloud, the Ophiuchus cloud. This star-forming region is about 520 years old - light. The triple star Rho Ophiuchus is located in the top center of the image. Below, a very bright nebula is visible, accompanied by a group of very young stars. At the bottom right, surrounded by a reddish nebula, the star Sigma Scorpii. The globular clusters NGC 6144 (bottom, center of the image) and M80 (top right of the image) are also visible on this infrared image obtained from the Wide - field Infrared Explorer (WISE) satellite. A rich collection of colorful astronomical objects is revealed in this picturesque image of the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex from Nasa's Wide - field Infrared Explorer, or WISE. The Rho Ophiuchi cloud (pronounced 'oh - fee - yoo - ki' and named after a bright star in the region) is found rising above the plane of the Milky Way in the night sky, bord

PIX4621533

Mars and the nebula Rho Ophiuchi - Mars and Rho Ophiuchi: Passage of the planet Mars (middle left of the image) in front of the nebula Rho Ophiuchi on August 26, 2016 - This star-forming region is located about 520 light years away. The brightest star below is the star Antares, from the Scorpio. Right, star cluster M4. - March passing the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex on Aug 26, 2016 - This star-forming region is located at about 520 light years in Scorpius constellation. The area is highlighted by the bright star Antares (bottom), a red supergiant 40,000 times more luminous than our sun

Mars and the nebula Rho Ophiuchi - Mars and Rho Ophiuchi: Passage of the planet Mars (middle left of the image) in front of the nebula Rho Ophiuchi on August 26, 2016 - This star-forming region is located about 520 light years away. The brightest star below is the star Antares, from the Scorpio. Right, star cluster M4. - March passing the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex on Aug 26, 2016 - This star-forming region is located at about 520 light years in Scorpius constellation. The area is highlighted by the bright star Antares (bottom), a red supergiant 40,000 times more luminous than our sun

Sebastian Voltmer

PIX4621574

Detail of the horse's head nebula by the VLT - Horsehead Nebula, which is situated in the Orion molecular cloud complex. Its official name is Barnard 33 and it is a dust protrusion in the southern region of the dense dust cloud Lynds 1630, on the edge of the HII region IC 434. The distance to the region is about 1400 light - years (430 pc). This beautiful colour image was produced from three images obtained with the multi - mode FORS2 instrument at the second VLT Unit Telescope (KUEYEN) on February 1, 2000. Three predominant colours are seen in the image: red from the hydrogen (H - alpha) emission from the HII region; brown for the foreground obscuring dust; and blue - green for scattered starlight. The blue - green regions of the Horsehead Nebula correspond to regions not shadowed from the light from the stars in the H II region to the top of the picture and scatter stellar radiation towards the observer; these are thus 'mountains' of dust

Detail of the horse's head nebula by the VLT - Horsehead Nebula, which is situated in the Orion molecular cloud complex. Its official name is Barnard 33 and it is a dust protrusion in the southern region of the dense dust cloud Lynds 1630, on the edge of the HII region IC 434. The distance to the region is about 1400 light - years (430 pc). This beautiful colour image was produced from three images obtained with the multi - mode FORS2 instrument at the second VLT Unit Telescope (KUEYEN) on February 1, 2000. Three predominant colours are seen in the image: red from the hydrogen (H - alpha) emission from the HII region; brown for the foreground obscuring dust; and blue - green for scattered starlight. The blue - green regions of the Horsehead Nebula correspond to regions not shadowed from the light from the stars in the H II region to the top of the picture and scatter stellar radiation towards the observer; these are thus 'mountains' of dust

PIX4621971

Sprawling across the constellation Vela is a complex of dark, dense clouds of dust and gas. The complex is called the Vela Molecular Cloud Ridge. This ridge may form part of the edge of the Orion spiral arm spur in our Milky Way galaxy. WISE.

Sprawling across the constellation Vela is a complex of dark, dense clouds of dust and gas. The complex is called the Vela Molecular Cloud Ridge. This ridge may form part of the edge of the Orion spiral arm spur in our Milky Way galaxy. WISE.

UIG867188

Sprawling across the constellation Vela is a complex of dark, dense clouds of dust and gas. The complex is called the Vela Molecular Cloud Ridge. This ridge may form part of the edge of the Orion spiral arm spur in our Milky Way galaxy. WISE.

Sprawling across the constellation Vela is a complex of dark, dense clouds of dust and gas. The complex is called the Vela Molecular Cloud Ridge. This ridge may form part of the edge of the Orion spiral arm spur in our Milky Way galaxy. WISE.

UIG867190

Sprawling across the constellation Vela is a complex of dark, dense clouds of dust and gas. The complex is called the Vela Molecular Cloud Ridge. This ridge may form part of the edge of the Orion spiral arm spur in our Milky Way galaxy. WISE.

Sprawling across the constellation Vela is a complex of dark, dense clouds of dust and gas. The complex is called the Vela Molecular Cloud Ridge. This ridge may form part of the edge of the Orion spiral arm spur in our Milky Way galaxy. WISE.

UIG867189

Sprawling across the constellation Vela is a complex of dark, dense clouds of dust and gas. The complex is called the Vela Molecular Cloud Ridge. This ridge may form part of the edge of the Orion spiral arm spur in our Milky Way galaxy. WISE.

Sprawling across the constellation Vela is a complex of dark, dense clouds of dust and gas. The complex is called the Vela Molecular Cloud Ridge. This ridge may form part of the edge of the Orion spiral arm spur in our Milky Way galaxy. WISE.

UIG867187

Sprawling across the constellation Vela is a complex of dark, dense clouds of dust and gas. The complex is called the Vela Molecular Cloud Ridge. This ridge may form part of the edge of the Orion spiral arm spur in our Milky Way galaxy. WISE.

Sprawling across the constellation Vela is a complex of dark, dense clouds of dust and gas. The complex is called the Vela Molecular Cloud Ridge. This ridge may form part of the edge of the Orion spiral arm spur in our Milky Way galaxy. WISE.

UIG867191

Perseus Molecular Cloud, 2015 (digital photo)

Perseus Molecular Cloud, 2015 (digital photo)

Pech, Pavel (21st century)

MMM7341508

Southern Crown Nebula - The CRA reflection nebula - R Coronae Australis is a region of star formations visible in the southern hemisphere. It is located about 500 light years away from Earth. On the right, the globular cluster NGC 6723, located 30 000 light years from Earth in Sagittarius. Image made with the 1.2m Telescope of Schmidt UK from Siding Spring. Corona Australis (the southern crown, CRA) is in the far southern sky but visible from the southern states of the USA. The constellation is small but distinctive. The conspicuous globular cluster NGC 6723 is at the western (right) edge of the photograph, but it is in Sagittarius, and is about 30,000 light years distant. Almost all the nebulosity here is starlight, reflected from minute grains of dust, some of which gather into darker condensations ('molecular clouds'), blotting out the background stars. Fainter features can be seen here. Shiny NGC 6726 - 27 near middle of image contains both a visual binary and a variable star. Other wispy nebulae in the western part of the dark cloud betray the presence of young, hidden stars — Southern Crown Nebula - The CRA reflection nebula - R Coronae Australis is a region of star formations visible in the southern hemisphere. It is located about 500 light years away from Earth. On the right, the globular cluster NGC 6723, located 30 000 light years from Earth in Sagittarius. Image made with the 1.2m Telescope of Schmidt UK from Siding Spring. Corona Australis (the southern crown, CRA) is in the far southern sky but visible from the southern states of the USA. The constellation is small but distinctive. The conspicuous globular cluster NGC 6723 is at the western (right) edge of the photograph, but it is in Sagittarius, and is about 30,000 light years distant. Almost all the nebulosity here is starlight, reflected from minute grains of dust, some of which gather into darker condensations ('molecular clouds'), blotting out the background stars. Fainter features can be seen here. Shiny NGC 6726 - 27 near middle of image contains both a visual binary and a variable star. Othe

Southern Crown Nebula - The CRA reflection nebula - R Coronae Australis is a region of star formations visible in the southern hemisphere. It is located about 500 light years away from Earth. On the right, the globular cluster NGC 6723, located 30 000 light years from Earth in Sagittarius. Image made with the 1.2m Telescope of Schmidt UK from Siding Spring. Corona Australis (the southern crown, CRA) is in the far southern sky but visible from the southern states of the USA. The constellation is small but distinctive. The conspicuous globular cluster NGC 6723 is at the western (right) edge of the photograph, but it is in Sagittarius, and is about 30,000 light years distant. Almost all the nebulosity here is starlight, reflected from minute grains of dust, some of which gather into darker condensations ('molecular clouds'), blotting out the background stars. Fainter features can be seen here. Shiny NGC 6726 - 27 near middle of image contains both a visual binary and a variable star. Othe

PIX4620295

This mosaic image taken by NASA's WISE, features three nebulae that are part of the giant Orion Molecular Cloud. Included in this view are the Flame nebula, the Horsehead nebula and NGC 2023.

This mosaic image taken by NASA's WISE, features three nebulae that are part of the giant Orion Molecular Cloud. Included in this view are the Flame nebula, the Horsehead nebula and NGC 2023.

UIG867240

This mosaic image taken by NASA's WISE, features three nebulae that are part of the giant Orion Molecular Cloud. Included in this view are the Flame nebula, the Horsehead nebula and NGC 2023.

This mosaic image taken by NASA's WISE, features three nebulae that are part of the giant Orion Molecular Cloud. Included in this view are the Flame nebula, the Horsehead nebula and NGC 2023.

UIG867241

Sea, earth, sky - molecular aspect, 1969 (oil & enamel on hardboard)

Sea, earth, sky - molecular aspect, 1969 (oil & enamel on hardboard)

Hanly, Pat (1932-2004)

TEP409788

Clouds of Jupiter - Illustration - Jupiter's cloud tops at night - Illustration - Artist view of Jupiter's cloud summit. Above all, the Io and Europe satellites. This vantage point is from the same altitude as Jupiter's highest clouds where the atmospheric pressure is just a few millibars, about the same as that on the surface of Mars. High in the starry sky can be seen two of Jupiter's largest satellites - - volcanic Io and icy Europa. The scanty ether here gives little clue to the gargantuan pressures and tornado - force winds below. A giant lightning bolt passes between cloud layers driven by a 300 mph gale. Beneath the clouds lies a turbulent realm of molecular hydrogen and helium. Go deeper yet and this atmosphere eventually gives way to a deep, planet - wide ocean of liquid hydrogen

Clouds of Jupiter - Illustration - Jupiter's cloud tops at night - Illustration - Artist view of Jupiter's cloud summit. Above all, the Io and Europe satellites. This vantage point is from the same altitude as Jupiter's highest clouds where the atmospheric pressure is just a few millibars, about the same as that on the surface of Mars. High in the starry sky can be seen two of Jupiter's largest satellites - - volcanic Io and icy Europa. The scanty ether here gives little clue to the gargantuan pressures and tornado - force winds below. A giant lightning bolt passes between cloud layers driven by a 300 mph gale. Beneath the clouds lies a turbulent realm of molecular hydrogen and helium. Go deeper yet and this atmosphere eventually gives way to a deep, planet - wide ocean of liquid hydrogen

Walter B Myers

PIX4575008

Cluster of stars NGC 299 in Toucan - Open cluster NGC 299 in Tucana: NGC 299 is an open cluster located in the galaxy of the Little Magellan Cloud. Image obtained by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). NGC 299 is an open star cluster located within the Small Magellanic Cloud just under 200 000 light-years away. Open clusters such as this are collections of stars weakly bound by the shackles of gravity, all of which formed from the same massive molecular cloud of gas and dust. Because of this, all the stars have the same age and composition, but vary in their mass because they formed at different positions within the cloud. This unique property not only ensures a spectacular sight when viewed through a sophisticated instrument attached to a telescope such as Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys, but gives astronomers a cosmic laboratory in which to study the formation and evolution of stars - a process that is thought to depend strongly on a star's mass

Cluster of stars NGC 299 in Toucan - Open cluster NGC 299 in Tucana: NGC 299 is an open cluster located in the galaxy of the Little Magellan Cloud. Image obtained by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). NGC 299 is an open star cluster located within the Small Magellanic Cloud just under 200 000 light-years away. Open clusters such as this are collections of stars weakly bound by the shackles of gravity, all of which formed from the same massive molecular cloud of gas and dust. Because of this, all the stars have the same age and composition, but vary in their mass because they formed at different positions within the cloud. This unique property not only ensures a spectacular sight when viewed through a sophisticated instrument attached to a telescope such as Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys, but gives astronomers a cosmic laboratory in which to study the formation and evolution of stars - a process that is thought to depend strongly on a star's mass

PIX4580152

Star-forming region in Persee - This molecular cloud is home to many young stars. On the right, NGC 1333, a reflexion nebula located 720 years - light from Earth. On the left, IC 348 is a cluster of 300 stars associated with a relatively bright nebula located about 1000 years from Earth

Star-forming region in Persee - This molecular cloud is home to many young stars. On the right, NGC 1333, a reflexion nebula located 720 years - light from Earth. On the left, IC 348 is a cluster of 300 stars associated with a relatively bright nebula located about 1000 years from Earth

PIX4617534

An artist's animation of a protoplanetary disk, which will eventually turn into a solar system. In the center is a star. As the star grows, its gravitational pull draws in dust and gas from the surrounding molecular cloud to form a swirling disk called a "protoplanetary disk." This disk eventually further consolidates to form planets, moons, asteroids and comets.

An artist's animation of a protoplanetary disk, which will eventually turn into a solar system. In the center is a star. As the star grows, its gravitational pull draws in dust and gas from the surrounding molecular cloud to form a swirling disk called a "protoplanetary disk." This disk eventually further consolidates to form planets, moons, asteroids and comets.

UIG867015

An artist's animation of a protoplanetary disk, which will eventually turn into a solar system. In the center is a star. As the star grows, its gravitational pull draws in dust and gas from the surrounding molecular cloud to form a swirling disk called a "protoplanetary disk." This disk eventually further consolidates to form planets, moons, asteroids and comets.

An artist's animation of a protoplanetary disk, which will eventually turn into a solar system. In the center is a star. As the star grows, its gravitational pull draws in dust and gas from the surrounding molecular cloud to form a swirling disk called a "protoplanetary disk." This disk eventually further consolidates to form planets, moons, asteroids and comets.

UIG867014

Nebula Sh2 - 142 in Cephee - Nebula Sh2 - 142 in Cepheus - Region of star formation in Cephee and star clusters NGC 7380. Sharpless 2 - 142 is a faint emission type nebula in Cepheus. It is part of the NGC 7380 complex consisting of the open cluster NGC 7380, the HII region Sh2 - 142 and a large molecular cloud NGC 7380E

Nebula Sh2 - 142 in Cephee - Nebula Sh2 - 142 in Cepheus - Region of star formation in Cephee and star clusters NGC 7380. Sharpless 2 - 142 is a faint emission type nebula in Cepheus. It is part of the NGC 7380 complex consisting of the open cluster NGC 7380, the HII region Sh2 - 142 and a large molecular cloud NGC 7380E

R. Gendler

PIX4621085

Molecular cloud B 68 in Ophiuchus seen in infrared - False - colour composite based on a visible (here rendered as blue), a near - infrared (green) and an infrared (red) image. Since the light from stars behind the cloud is only visible at the longest (infrared) wavelengths, they appear red. At a distance of only 410 light - years, Barnard 68 is one of the nearest dark clouds. Its size is about 12,500 AU (= 2 million km; 1 Astronomical Unit [AU] = 150 million km), or just about the same as the so - called “” Oort Cloud””” of long - period comets that surrounds the solar system. The temperature of Barnard 68 is 16 Kelvin (- 257* C) The total mass of the cloud is about twice that of the Sun

Molecular cloud B 68 in Ophiuchus seen in infrared - False - colour composite based on a visible (here rendered as blue), a near - infrared (green) and an infrared (red) image. Since the light from stars behind the cloud is only visible at the longest (infrared) wavelengths, they appear red. At a distance of only 410 light - years, Barnard 68 is one of the nearest dark clouds. Its size is about 12,500 AU (= 2 million km; 1 Astronomical Unit [AU] = 150 million km), or just about the same as the so - called “” Oort Cloud””” of long - period comets that surrounds the solar system. The temperature of Barnard 68 is 16 Kelvin (- 257* C) The total mass of the cloud is about twice that of the Sun

PIX4621267

Nebula NGC 7023 in Cephee - Iris Nebula in Cepheus - The nebula of the Iris (NGC 7023) is a reflexion nebula illuminated by the star HD 200775. NGC 7023 (The Iris Nebula) Distance: 1400 Light Years The bright star HD 200775 shining through the nebula NGC 7023 is a 10 solar mass star centrally imbedded in a region surrounded by ambient molecular cloud material

Nebula NGC 7023 in Cephee - Iris Nebula in Cepheus - The nebula of the Iris (NGC 7023) is a reflexion nebula illuminated by the star HD 200775. NGC 7023 (The Iris Nebula) Distance: 1400 Light Years The bright star HD 200775 shining through the nebula NGC 7023 is a 10 solar mass star centrally imbedded in a region surrounded by ambient molecular cloud material

Stefan Seip

PIX4620508

Artist's view of a star birth - Birth of a star. Artwork - A proto - star is a pile of gas and dust that contracts and rotates around its center of gravity. When the mass of this core of matter is sufficient, the temperature rises and the nucleus reactions make the star shine. A protostar is an object that forms by contraction out of big gas of a molecular cloud. When the heart of this matter is big enough, its temperature increases and nuclear reactions make the star shine

Artist's view of a star birth - Birth of a star. Artwork - A proto - star is a pile of gas and dust that contracts and rotates around its center of gravity. When the mass of this core of matter is sufficient, the temperature rises and the nucleus reactions make the star shine. A protostar is an object that forms by contraction out of big gas of a molecular cloud. When the heart of this matter is big enough, its temperature increases and nuclear reactions make the star shine

H. Piraud

PIX4572919

Nebulae of the horse's head and M42 in Orion - Horsehead and Orion nebulae - Dark Nebula of the horse's head (IC434 - B33). Further down, the large Orion nebula (M42) vast star-forming region. These nebulae are located 1500 years of light from Earth. Image obtained from the 1.2m Schmidt telescope of Siding Spring. This wide - angle picture of the Orion region has been made to reveal the extensive network of very faint filaments which are traceable over most of the constellation. These faint features are optical evidence of a substantial dark cloud of molecular gas and dust which dominate at radio wavelengths. Where hot stars are closely associated with the molecular cloud, a bright nebula appears. By far the most conspicuous of these is the Orion Nebula, M42. This spectacular object is so bright that its light is reflected from filaments of the dark cloud some distance away. In contrast, the wisps of the Horsehead Nebula are much fainter but even here faint tendrils of nebulosity show that the nebula is much more extensive than is generally realised. All these objects are about 1500 light years distant — Nebulae of the horse's head and M42 in Orion - Horsehead and Orion nebulae - Dark Nebula of the horse's head (IC434 - B33). Further down, the large Orion nebula (M42) vast star-forming region. These nebulae are located 1500 years of light from Earth. Image obtained from the 1.2m Schmidt telescope of Siding Spring. This wide - angle picture of the Orion region has been made to reveal the extensive network of very faint filaments which are traceable over most of the constellation. These faint features are optical evidence of a substantial dark cloud of molecular gas and dust which dominate at radio wavelengths. Where hot stars are closely associated with the molecular cloud, a bright nebula appears. By far the most conspicuous of these is the Orion Nebula, M42. This spectacular object is so bright that its light is reflected from filaments of the dark cloud some distance away. In contrast, the wisps of the Horsehead Nebula are much fainter but even here faint tendrils of nebulosity show

Nebulae of the horse's head and M42 in Orion - Horsehead and Orion nebulae - Dark Nebula of the horse's head (IC434 - B33). Further down, the large Orion nebula (M42) vast star-forming region. These nebulae are located 1500 years of light from Earth. Image obtained from the 1.2m Schmidt telescope of Siding Spring. This wide - angle picture of the Orion region has been made to reveal the extensive network of very faint filaments which are traceable over most of the constellation. These faint features are optical evidence of a substantial dark cloud of molecular gas and dust which dominate at radio wavelengths. Where hot stars are closely associated with the molecular cloud, a bright nebula appears. By far the most conspicuous of these is the Orion Nebula, M42. This spectacular object is so bright that its light is reflected from filaments of the dark cloud some distance away. In contrast, the wisps of the Horsehead Nebula are much fainter but even here faint tendrils of nebulosity show

PIX4617912

The Rho Ophiuchi Clouds, 2016 (digital photo)

The Rho Ophiuchi Clouds, 2016 (digital photo)

Mironov, Artem (21st century)

MMM7337570

Nebula NGC 1555 and star T - Tauri - Nebula NGC 1555 with T - Tauri - Nebula NGC 1555 (Hind variable nebula) in the constellation Tauri. Within this nebula a yellow cloud surrounds a T - Tauri star, a very young star in formation. The orange star in this view is T Tauri, prototype of the class of T Tauri variable stars. Nearby it is a dusty yellow cosmic cloud historically known as Hind's Variable Nebula (NGC 1555/1554). Over 400 light - years away, at the edge of a molecular cloud, both star and nebula are seen to vary significantly in brightness but not necessarily at the same time, adding to the mystery of the intriguing region. T Tauri stars are now generally recognized as young (less than a few million years old), sun - like stars still in the early stages of formation

Nebula NGC 1555 and star T - Tauri - Nebula NGC 1555 with T - Tauri - Nebula NGC 1555 (Hind variable nebula) in the constellation Tauri. Within this nebula a yellow cloud surrounds a T - Tauri star, a very young star in formation. The orange star in this view is T Tauri, prototype of the class of T Tauri variable stars. Nearby it is a dusty yellow cosmic cloud historically known as Hind's Variable Nebula (NGC 1555/1554). Over 400 light - years away, at the edge of a molecular cloud, both star and nebula are seen to vary significantly in brightness but not necessarily at the same time, adding to the mystery of the intriguing region. T Tauri stars are now generally recognized as young (less than a few million years old), sun - like stars still in the early stages of formation

Adam Block

PIX4617573

Nebulae NGC 7023 and VDB 141 in Cephee - Iris Nebula and Ghost nebula in Cepheus - The nebula of the Iris (NGC 7023) is a reflexion nebula illuminated by the star HD 200775. VDB 141, lower left, is a reflexion nebula illuminated by young stars. The bright star HD 200775 shining through the nebula NGC 7023 is a 10 solar mass star centrally imbedded in a region surrounded by ambient molecular cloud material. Bottom left is the reflection nebula VDB 141, the Ghost nebula illuminated by young stars

Nebulae NGC 7023 and VDB 141 in Cephee - Iris Nebula and Ghost nebula in Cepheus - The nebula of the Iris (NGC 7023) is a reflexion nebula illuminated by the star HD 200775. VDB 141, lower left, is a reflexion nebula illuminated by young stars. The bright star HD 200775 shining through the nebula NGC 7023 is a 10 solar mass star centrally imbedded in a region surrounded by ambient molecular cloud material. Bottom left is the reflection nebula VDB 141, the Ghost nebula illuminated by young stars

PIX4620530

Young stars in Rho Ophiuchi - Young stars in Rho Ophiuchi - Image of the central part of Rho Ophiuchi obtained in infrared by the Spitzer space telescope. Rho Ophiuchi is a vast dark cloud of molecular hydrogen located 407 years - light from Earth in the constellations of Ophiuchus and Scorpio. More than 300 young stars aged only 300,000 years have been observed. On this picture in false colors highlighting the temperature differences present in this cloud, the younger stars appear in red, the more evolute stars in blue. Newborn stars peek out from beneath their natal blanket of dust in this dynamic image of the Rho Ophiuchi dark cloud from Nasa's Spitzer Space Telescope. Called “” Rho Oph””” by astronomers, it's one of the closest star - forming regions to our own solar system. Located near the constellations Scorpius and Ophiuchus, the nebula is about 407 light years away from Earth. Rho Oph is a complex made up of a large main cloud of molecular hydrogen, a key molecule allowing new stars to form from cold cosmic gas, with two long streamers trailing off in different directions. Recent studies using the latest X - ray and infrared observations reveal more than 300 young stellar objects within the large central cloud. Their median age is only 300,000 years, very young compared to some of the university's oldest stars, which are more than 12 billion years old. This false - color image of Rho Oph's main cloud, Lynds 1688, was created with data from Spitzer's infrared array camera, and its multiband imaging photometer, best for detecting cooler materials. Blue represents 3.6 - micron light; green shows light of 8 microns; and red is 24 - micron light. The multiple wavelengths reveal different aspects of the dust surrounding and between the embedded stars, yielding information about the stars and their birthplace. The colors in this image reflect the relative temperatures and evolutionary states of the — Young stars in Rho Ophiuchi - Young stars in Rho Ophiuchi - Image of the central part of Rho Ophiuchi obtained in infrared by the Spitzer space telescope. Rho Ophiuchi is a vast dark cloud of molecular hydrogen located 407 years - light from Earth in the constellations of Ophiuchus and Scorpio. More than 300 young stars aged only 300,000 years have been observed. On this picture in false colors highlighting the temperature differences present in this cloud, the younger stars appear in red, the more evolute stars in blue. Newborn stars peek out from beneath their natal blanket of dust in this dynamic image of the Rho Ophiuchi dark cloud from Nasa's Spitzer Space Telescope. Called “” Rho Oph””” by astronomers, it's one of the closest star - forming regions to our own solar system. Located near the constellations Scorpius and Ophiuchus, the nebula is about 407 light years away from Earth. Rho Oph is a complex made up of a large main cloud of molecular hydrogen, a key molecule allowing new

Young stars in Rho Ophiuchi - Young stars in Rho Ophiuchi - Image of the central part of Rho Ophiuchi obtained in infrared by the Spitzer space telescope. Rho Ophiuchi is a vast dark cloud of molecular hydrogen located 407 years - light from Earth in the constellations of Ophiuchus and Scorpio. More than 300 young stars aged only 300,000 years have been observed. On this picture in false colors highlighting the temperature differences present in this cloud, the younger stars appear in red, the more evolute stars in blue. Newborn stars peek out from beneath their natal blanket of dust in this dynamic image of the Rho Ophiuchi dark cloud from Nasa's Spitzer Space Telescope. Called “” Rho Oph””” by astronomers, it's one of the closest star - forming regions to our own solar system. Located near the constellations Scorpius and Ophiuchus, the nebula is about 407 light years away from Earth. Rho Oph is a complex made up of a large main cloud of molecular hydrogen, a key molecule allowing new

PIX4621537

Nebulae B175 and VDB 152 in Cephee - Dark nebula B175 and reflection nebula VDB 152 - Located about 1400 years ago - light in the constellation Cephee, a large dust trail leads to a bluish nebula. This is the dark nebula, Barnard 175, which faces the nebula by reflexion VDB 152 (Ced 201). The reflection nebula vdB 152 is really very faint. It lies about 1400 light - years away, along the northern Milky Way in the constellation Cepheus. Near the edge of a large molecular cloud, pockets of cosmic dust in the region block light from background stars or scatter light from the embedded bright star (top) giving parts of the nebula a characteristic blue color. Ultraviolet light from the star is also thought to cause a dim reddish luminescence in the nebular dust. Although stars do form in molecular clouds, this star seems to have only accidentally wandered into the area, as its measured velocity through interstellar space is very different from the cloud's velocity

Nebulae B175 and VDB 152 in Cephee - Dark nebula B175 and reflection nebula VDB 152 - Located about 1400 years ago - light in the constellation Cephee, a large dust trail leads to a bluish nebula. This is the dark nebula, Barnard 175, which faces the nebula by reflexion VDB 152 (Ced 201). The reflection nebula vdB 152 is really very faint. It lies about 1400 light - years away, along the northern Milky Way in the constellation Cepheus. Near the edge of a large molecular cloud, pockets of cosmic dust in the region block light from background stars or scatter light from the embedded bright star (top) giving parts of the nebula a characteristic blue color. Ultraviolet light from the star is also thought to cause a dim reddish luminescence in the nebular dust. Although stars do form in molecular clouds, this star seems to have only accidentally wandered into the area, as its measured velocity through interstellar space is very different from the cloud's velocity

Tom Davis

PIX4621253

Dark Nebula in Scorpio - A dark cloud in Scorpius - Unnamed nebula in Scorpius. Bright rimmed globules and their more evolved cousin the cometary globule represent fascinating dynamic structures formed by the interplay of cold molecular clouds and hot ionizing stars. Typically the head of the globule faces a hot O - type star. Intense radiation from the star boils away lower density gas from the head. The evaporated rim of gas becomes ionized by the stars ultraviolet flux forming a bright glowing rim we associate with many of these globules including CG4. Intense stellar winds from the ionizing star evaporate gas and dust away from the head forming the “” tail”” and completing the cometary shape. The blood cells are known to be the birthplace of low mass stars. Stars form within the blood cells by the mechanism known as “” radiation driven implosion”. This process occurs when ultraviolet flux from a hot star compresses surviving clumps of cold molecular gas eventually causing collapse and core formation within the dense compact clouds. Lower and intermediate mass stars ultimately form from the compact gas and dust within the blood cells — Dark Nebula in Scorpio - A dark cloud in Scorpius - Unnamed nebula in Scorpius. Bright rimmed globules and their more evolved cousin the cometary globule represent fascinating dynamic structures formed by the interplay of cold molecular clouds and hot ionizing stars. Typically the head of the globule faces a hot O - type star. Intense radiation from the star boils away lower density gas from the head. The evaporated rim of gas becomes ionized by the stars ultraviolet flux forming a bright glowing rim we associate with many of these globules including CG4. Intense stellar winds from the ionizing star evaporate gas and dust away from the head forming the “” tail”” and completing the cometary shape. The blood cells are known to be the birthplace of low mass stars. Stars form within the blood cells by the mechanism known as “” radiation driven implosion”. This process occurs when ultraviolet flux from a hot star compresses surviving clumps of cold molecular gas eventually causing collapse

Dark Nebula in Scorpio - A dark cloud in Scorpius - Unnamed nebula in Scorpius. Bright rimmed globules and their more evolved cousin the cometary globule represent fascinating dynamic structures formed by the interplay of cold molecular clouds and hot ionizing stars. Typically the head of the globule faces a hot O - type star. Intense radiation from the star boils away lower density gas from the head. The evaporated rim of gas becomes ionized by the stars ultraviolet flux forming a bright glowing rim we associate with many of these globules including CG4. Intense stellar winds from the ionizing star evaporate gas and dust away from the head forming the “” tail”” and completing the cometary shape. The blood cells are known to be the birthplace of low mass stars. Stars form within the blood cells by the mechanism known as “” radiation driven implosion”. This process occurs when ultraviolet flux from a hot star compresses surviving clumps of cold molecular gas eventually causing collapse

R. Gendler

PIX4621601

Nebula NGC 2170 in Unicorn - Nebula NGC 2170 in Monoceros - Nebula by reflexion located in the constellation Unicorn. This rich collection of predominantly reflection and sparse emission nebulosity exists in the western part of a vast star forming region known as the Mon R 2 association. The “” R”” designation stands for reflection and indicates an association of stars illuminating reflection nebulae. Most of the members of Mon R 2 are type B stars located along an east - west line stretching across 2 degrees of the winter sky, situated about 8 degrees east of the Orion Nebula. The Mon R 2 association resides at a distance of 830 pc and formed about 6 to 10 million years ago along the edge of the Mon R2 molecular cloud

Nebula NGC 2170 in Unicorn - Nebula NGC 2170 in Monoceros - Nebula by reflexion located in the constellation Unicorn. This rich collection of predominantly reflection and sparse emission nebulosity exists in the western part of a vast star forming region known as the Mon R 2 association. The “” R”” designation stands for reflection and indicates an association of stars illuminating reflection nebulae. Most of the members of Mon R 2 are type B stars located along an east - west line stretching across 2 degrees of the winter sky, situated about 8 degrees east of the Orion Nebula. The Mon R 2 association resides at a distance of 830 pc and formed about 6 to 10 million years ago along the edge of the Mon R2 molecular cloud

R. Gendler

PIX4618356

Nebula NGC 2170 in Unicorn - Nebula NGC 2170 in Monoceros - Nebula by reflexion located in the constellation Unicorn. This rich collection of predominantly reflection and sparse emission nebulosity exists in the western part of a vast star forming region known as the Mon R 2 association. The “” R”” designation stands for reflection and indicates an association of stars illuminating reflection nebulae. Most of the members of Mon R 2 are type B stars located along an east - west line stretching across 2 degrees of the winter sky, situated about 8 degrees east of the Orion Nebula. The Mon R 2 association resides at a distance of 830 pc and formed about 6 to 10 million years ago along the edge of the Mon R2 molecular cloud

Nebula NGC 2170 in Unicorn - Nebula NGC 2170 in Monoceros - Nebula by reflexion located in the constellation Unicorn. This rich collection of predominantly reflection and sparse emission nebulosity exists in the western part of a vast star forming region known as the Mon R 2 association. The “” R”” designation stands for reflection and indicates an association of stars illuminating reflection nebulae. Most of the members of Mon R 2 are type B stars located along an east - west line stretching across 2 degrees of the winter sky, situated about 8 degrees east of the Orion Nebula. The Mon R 2 association resides at a distance of 830 pc and formed about 6 to 10 million years ago along the edge of the Mon R2 molecular cloud

R. Gendler

PIX4618379

Nebula NGC 2170 in Unicorn - Nebula NGC 2170 in Monoceros - Nebula by reflexion located in the constellation Unicorn. This rich collection of predominantly reflection and sparse emission nebulosity exists in the western part of a vast star forming region known as the Mon R 2 association. The “” R”” designation stands for reflection and indicates an association of stars illuminating reflection nebulae. Most of the members of Mon R 2 are type B stars located along an east - west line stretching across 2 degrees of the winter sky, situated about 8 degrees east of the Orion Nebula. The Mon R 2 association resides at a distance of 830 pc and formed about 6 to 10 million years ago along the edge of the Mon R2 molecular cloud

Nebula NGC 2170 in Unicorn - Nebula NGC 2170 in Monoceros - Nebula by reflexion located in the constellation Unicorn. This rich collection of predominantly reflection and sparse emission nebulosity exists in the western part of a vast star forming region known as the Mon R 2 association. The “” R”” designation stands for reflection and indicates an association of stars illuminating reflection nebulae. Most of the members of Mon R 2 are type B stars located along an east - west line stretching across 2 degrees of the winter sky, situated about 8 degrees east of the Orion Nebula. The Mon R 2 association resides at a distance of 830 pc and formed about 6 to 10 million years ago along the edge of the Mon R2 molecular cloud

Adam Block

PIX4618377

Southern Crown Nebula - The tail of the CRA reflection nebula - R Coronae Australis is a region of star formations visible in the southern hemisphere. It is located about 500 light years away from Earth. On the right, the globular cluster NGC 6723, located 30 000 light years from Earth in Sagittarius. Image made with the 1.2m Telescope of Schmidt UK from Siding Spring. Corona Australis (the southern crown, CRA) is in the far southern sky but visible from the southern states of the USA. The constellation is small but distinctive. The conspicuous globular cluster NGC 6723 is at the western (right) edge of the photograph, but it is in Sagittarius, and is about 30,000 light years distant. Our picture is about 4.5 degrees across and the extremely faint Corona Australis nebula meanders along the Sgr - CRA border nebula in the same E - W direction. Almost all the nebulosity here is starlight, reflected from minute grains of dust, some of which gather into darker condensations ('molecular clouds'), blotting out the background stars. By far the largest and densest of the molecular clouds is at the western end of the picture, seen in more detail here. It is about a degree long, corresponding to eight light years at the 500ly distance of the nebula and is extremely opaque - - background stars are dimmed by an astonishing 35 magnitudes. However, not all is darkness, and the dusty cloud appears to be tipped by a pair of bright stars, embedded in bright reflection nebulae. The brightest of these is NGC 6726 - 27 and it contains both a visual binary and a variable star. Other wispy nebulae in the western part of the dark cloud betray the presence of young, hidden stars — Southern Crown Nebula - The tail of the CRA reflection nebula - R Coronae Australis is a region of star formations visible in the southern hemisphere. It is located about 500 light years away from Earth. On the right, the globular cluster NGC 6723, located 30 000 light years from Earth in Sagittarius. Image made with the 1.2m Telescope of Schmidt UK from Siding Spring. Corona Australis (the southern crown, CRA) is in the far southern sky but visible from the southern states of the USA. The constellation is small but distinctive. The conspicuous globular cluster NGC 6723 is at the western (right) edge of the photograph, but it is in Sagittarius, and is about 30,000 light years distant. Our picture is about 4.5 degrees across and the extremely faint Corona Australis nebula meanders along the Sgr - CRA border nebula in the same E - W direction. Almost all the nebulosity here is starlight, reflected from minute grains of dust, some of which gather into darker condensations ('molecular clou

Southern Crown Nebula - The tail of the CRA reflection nebula - R Coronae Australis is a region of star formations visible in the southern hemisphere. It is located about 500 light years away from Earth. On the right, the globular cluster NGC 6723, located 30 000 light years from Earth in Sagittarius. Image made with the 1.2m Telescope of Schmidt UK from Siding Spring. Corona Australis (the southern crown, CRA) is in the far southern sky but visible from the southern states of the USA. The constellation is small but distinctive. The conspicuous globular cluster NGC 6723 is at the western (right) edge of the photograph, but it is in Sagittarius, and is about 30,000 light years distant. Our picture is about 4.5 degrees across and the extremely faint Corona Australis nebula meanders along the Sgr - CRA border nebula in the same E - W direction. Almost all the nebulosity here is starlight, reflected from minute grains of dust, some of which gather into darker condensations ('molecular clou

PIX4620260

Nebula NGC 6559 in Sagittarius - NGC 6559 and IC 1274 - 75 in Sagittarius - Located in Sagittarius, this nebula is located at a distance of about 5000 years - light from Earth. Image made with the 1.2m Telescope of Schmidt UK from Siding Spring. This dusty region is probably associated with the brighter and better - known Lagoon and Trifid Nebulae which are nearby in the sky and part of the same molecular cloud. The soft red glow of fluorescent hydrogen is evidence that there are young hot stars associated with the dusty clouds. These bright stars also illuminate the tiny solid particles, producing blue reflection nebulae bordering some of the emission regions. The dust is also evident in silhouette, both as sinuous dark lanes winding through the luminous gas and as the dark patches obscuring the ancient, yellow stars that populate the central parts of the Milky Way

Nebula NGC 6559 in Sagittarius - NGC 6559 and IC 1274 - 75 in Sagittarius - Located in Sagittarius, this nebula is located at a distance of about 5000 years - light from Earth. Image made with the 1.2m Telescope of Schmidt UK from Siding Spring. This dusty region is probably associated with the brighter and better - known Lagoon and Trifid Nebulae which are nearby in the sky and part of the same molecular cloud. The soft red glow of fluorescent hydrogen is evidence that there are young hot stars associated with the dusty clouds. These bright stars also illuminate the tiny solid particles, producing blue reflection nebulae bordering some of the emission regions. The dust is also evident in silhouette, both as sinuous dark lanes winding through the luminous gas and as the dark patches obscuring the ancient, yellow stars that populate the central parts of the Milky Way

PIX4619800

Nebula NGC 6559 in Sagittarius - NGC 6559 and IC 1274 - 75 in Sagittarius - Located in Sagittarius, this nebula is located at a distance of about 5000 years - light from Earth. Image made with the 1.2m Telescope of Schmidt UK from Siding Spring. This dusty region is probably associated with the brighter and better - known Lagoon and Trifid Nebulae which are nearby in the sky and part of the same molecular cloud. The soft red glow of fluorescent hydrogen is evidence that there are young hot stars associated with the dusty clouds. These bright stars also illuminate the tiny solid particles, producing blue reflection nebulae bordering some of the emission regions. The dust is also evident in silhouette, both as sinuous dark lanes winding through the luminous gas and as the dark patches obscuring the ancient, yellow stars that populate the central parts of the Milky Way

Nebula NGC 6559 in Sagittarius - NGC 6559 and IC 1274 - 75 in Sagittarius - Located in Sagittarius, this nebula is located at a distance of about 5000 years - light from Earth. Image made with the 1.2m Telescope of Schmidt UK from Siding Spring. This dusty region is probably associated with the brighter and better - known Lagoon and Trifid Nebulae which are nearby in the sky and part of the same molecular cloud. The soft red glow of fluorescent hydrogen is evidence that there are young hot stars associated with the dusty clouds. These bright stars also illuminate the tiny solid particles, producing blue reflection nebulae bordering some of the emission regions. The dust is also evident in silhouette, both as sinuous dark lanes winding through the luminous gas and as the dark patches obscuring the ancient, yellow stars that populate the central parts of the Milky Way

PIX4619831

Open cluster Trumpler 5 in Unicorn - Open cluster Trumpler 5 in Monoceros - Trumpler 5 is a cluster of stars aged 125 million years. Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope As they age, open clusters of stars begin to lose their identity. This is partly because the brighter members tend to self - destruct as supernovae, and, though the group members share a common motion through space, they are only loosely bound. Thus stars drift away from the cluster in a process that accelerates with time. However, some clusters are big enough to retain their identity much longer than usual, and Trumpler 5 is one such. Its age is estimated to be 125 million years, and it must have been a spectacular sight in its youth. It seems to be at the edge of the Monoceros molecular cloud, where star formation is continuing new generations of young clusters

Open cluster Trumpler 5 in Unicorn - Open cluster Trumpler 5 in Monoceros - Trumpler 5 is a cluster of stars aged 125 million years. Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope As they age, open clusters of stars begin to lose their identity. This is partly because the brighter members tend to self - destruct as supernovae, and, though the group members share a common motion through space, they are only loosely bound. Thus stars drift away from the cluster in a process that accelerates with time. However, some clusters are big enough to retain their identity much longer than usual, and Trumpler 5 is one such. Its age is estimated to be 125 million years, and it must have been a spectacular sight in its youth. It seems to be at the edge of the Monoceros molecular cloud, where star formation is continuing new generations of young clusters

PIX4569009

Nebula N81 in the Small Magellan Cloud - Celestial Maternity Ward N81 in the Small Magellanic Cloud A NASA Hubble Space Telescope “” family portrait””” of young, ultra - bright stars nested in their embryonic cloud of glowing gases. The celestial maternity ward, called N81, is located 200,000 light - years away in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), a small irregular satellite galaxy of our Milky Way. Hubble's exquisite resolution allows astronomers to pinpoint 50 separate stars tightly packed in the nebula's core within a 10 light - year diameter - slightly more than twice the distance between earth and the nearest star to our sun. The closest pair of stars is only 1/3 of a light - year apart (0.3 arcseconds in the sky). This furious rate of mass loss from these super - hot stars is evident in the Hubble picture that reveals dramatic shapes sculpted in the nebula's wall of glowing gases by violent stellar winds and shock waves. A pair of bright stars in the center of the nebula is pouring out most of the ultraviolet radiation to make the nebula glow. Just above them, a small dark knot is all that's left of the cold cloud of molecular hydrogen and dust the stars were born from. Dark absorption lanes of residual dust trisect the nebula. The nebula offers a unique opportunity for a close - up glimpse at the “” firestorm”” accompanying the birth of extremely massive stars, each blazing with the brilliance of 300,000 of our suns. Such galactic fireworks were much more common billions of years ago in the early universe, when most star formation took place. The “” natural - color” view was assembled from separate images taken with the Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2, in ultraviolet light and two narrow emission lines of ionized Hydrogen (H - alpha, H - beta). The picture was taken on September 4, 1997 — Nebula N81 in the Small Magellan Cloud - Celestial Maternity Ward N81 in the Small Magellanic Cloud A NASA Hubble Space Telescope “” family portrait””” of young, ultra - bright stars nested in their embryonic cloud of glowing gases. The celestial maternity ward, called N81, is located 200,000 light - years away in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), a small irregular satellite galaxy of our Milky Way. Hubble's exquisite resolution allows astronomers to pinpoint 50 separate stars tightly packed in the nebula's core within a 10 light - year diameter - slightly more than twice the distance between earth and the nearest star to our sun. The closest pair of stars is only 1/3 of a light - year apart (0.3 arcseconds in the sky). This furious rate of mass loss from these super - hot stars is evident in the Hubble picture that reveals dramatic shapes sculpted in the nebula's wall of glowing gases by violent stellar winds and shock waves. A pair of bright stars in the center of the nebula is pouri

Nebula N81 in the Small Magellan Cloud - Celestial Maternity Ward N81 in the Small Magellanic Cloud A NASA Hubble Space Telescope “” family portrait””” of young, ultra - bright stars nested in their embryonic cloud of glowing gases. The celestial maternity ward, called N81, is located 200,000 light - years away in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), a small irregular satellite galaxy of our Milky Way. Hubble's exquisite resolution allows astronomers to pinpoint 50 separate stars tightly packed in the nebula's core within a 10 light - year diameter - slightly more than twice the distance between earth and the nearest star to our sun. The closest pair of stars is only 1/3 of a light - year apart (0.3 arcseconds in the sky). This furious rate of mass loss from these super - hot stars is evident in the Hubble picture that reveals dramatic shapes sculpted in the nebula's wall of glowing gases by violent stellar winds and shock waves. A pair of bright stars in the center of the nebula is pouri

PIX4620890

Star Formation in the DR21 Region - Star Formation in the DR21 Region - This star-forming region is about 6200 years old - light. Hidden in light visible by interstellar dust, this region rises in infrared light. Gas filaments appear in red; they emphasize the presence of aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons (PAH); they are organic molecules composed of carbon atoms and hydrogen that could be the germs on which the first bricks of life appeared. Image obtained by the Spitzer space telescope in 2003. Hidden behind a shroud of dust in the constellation Cygnus is a stellar nursery called DR21, which is giving birth to some of the most massive stars in our galaxy. Visible light images reveal no trace of this interstellar cauldron because of heavy dust obscuration. This image from Nasa's Spitzer Space Telescope allow us to peek behind the cosmic veil and pinpoint one of the most massive natal stars yet seen in our Milky Way galaxy. The never - before - seen star is 100,000 times as bright as the Sun. Also revealed for the first time is a powerful outflow of hot gas emanating from this star and bursting through a giant molecular cloud. The image is a large - scale mosaic assembled from individual photographs obtained with the Infraared Array Camera (IRAC) aboard Spitzer. The image covers an area about two times that of a full moon. The mosaic is a composite of images obtained at mid - infrared wavelengths of 3.6 microns (blue), 4.5 microns (green), 5.8 microns (orange) and 8 microns (red). The brightest infrared cloud near the top center corresponds to DR21, which presumably contains a cluster of newly forming stars at a distance of 10,000 light - years. Protruding out from DR21 toward the bottom left of the image is a gaseous outflow (green), containing both carbon monoxide and molecular hydrogen. Data from the Spitzer spectrograph, which breaks light into its constitutes — Star Formation in the DR21 Region - Star Formation in the DR21 Region - This star-forming region is about 6200 years old - light. Hidden in light visible by interstellar dust, this region rises in infrared light. Gas filaments appear in red; they emphasize the presence of aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons (PAH); they are organic molecules composed of carbon atoms and hydrogen that could be the germs on which the first bricks of life appeared. Image obtained by the Spitzer space telescope in 2003. Hidden behind a shroud of dust in the constellation Cygnus is a stellar nursery called DR21, which is giving birth to some of the most massive stars in our galaxy. Visible light images reveal no trace of this interstellar cauldron because of heavy dust obscuration. This image from Nasa's Spitzer Space Telescope allow us to peek behind the cosmic veil and pinpoint one of the most massive natal stars yet seen in our Milky Way galaxy. The never - before - seen star is 100,000 times as bright as th

Star Formation in the DR21 Region - Star Formation in the DR21 Region - This star-forming region is about 6200 years old - light. Hidden in light visible by interstellar dust, this region rises in infrared light. Gas filaments appear in red; they emphasize the presence of aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons (PAH); they are organic molecules composed of carbon atoms and hydrogen that could be the germs on which the first bricks of life appeared. Image obtained by the Spitzer space telescope in 2003. Hidden behind a shroud of dust in the constellation Cygnus is a stellar nursery called DR21, which is giving birth to some of the most massive stars in our galaxy. Visible light images reveal no trace of this interstellar cauldron because of heavy dust obscuration. This image from Nasa's Spitzer Space Telescope allow us to peek behind the cosmic veil and pinpoint one of the most massive natal stars yet seen in our Milky Way galaxy. The never - before - seen star is 100,000 times as bright as th

PIX4621130

Nebula NGC 2170 in Unicorn - Nebula NGC 2170 in Monoceros - Nebula by reflexion located in the constellation Unicorn. This rich collection of predominantly reflection and sparse emission nebulosity exists in the western part of a vast star forming region known as the Mon R 2 association. The “” R”” designation stands for reflection and indicates an association of stars illuminating reflection nebulae. Most of the members of Mon R 2 are type B stars located along an east - west line stretching across 2 degrees of the winter sky, situated about 8 degrees east of the Orion Nebula. The Mon R 2 association resides at a distance of 830 pc and formed about 6 to 10 million years ago along the edge of the Mon R2 molecular cloud. NGC2170 is a common nebula imaged and yet with long exposures it takes on a whole new look. Many of the nebulae seen here appear to be uncataloged and not previously imaged. This image has been carefully processed to reveal the many faint and dusty nebulae in this region of Monoceros — Nebula NGC 2170 in Unicorn - Nebula NGC 2170 in Monoceros - Nebula by reflexion located in the constellation Unicorn. This rich collection of predominantly reflection and sparse emission nebulosity exists in the western part of a vast star forming region known as the Mon R 2 association. The “” R”” designation stands for reflection and indicates an association of stars illuminating reflection nebulae. Most of the members of Mon R 2 are type B stars located along an east - west line stretching across 2 degrees of the winter sky, situated about 8 degrees east of the Orion Nebula. The Mon R 2 association resides at a distance of 830 pc and formed about 6 to 10 million years ago along the edge of the Mon R2 molecular cloud. NGC2170 is a common nebula imaged and yet with long exposures it takes on a whole new look. Many of the nebulae seen here appear to be uncataloged and not previously imaged. This image has been carefully processed to reveal the many faint and dusty nebulae in this regio

Nebula NGC 2170 in Unicorn - Nebula NGC 2170 in Monoceros - Nebula by reflexion located in the constellation Unicorn. This rich collection of predominantly reflection and sparse emission nebulosity exists in the western part of a vast star forming region known as the Mon R 2 association. The “” R”” designation stands for reflection and indicates an association of stars illuminating reflection nebulae. Most of the members of Mon R 2 are type B stars located along an east - west line stretching across 2 degrees of the winter sky, situated about 8 degrees east of the Orion Nebula. The Mon R 2 association resides at a distance of 830 pc and formed about 6 to 10 million years ago along the edge of the Mon R2 molecular cloud. NGC2170 is a common nebula imaged and yet with long exposures it takes on a whole new look. Many of the nebulae seen here appear to be uncataloged and not previously imaged. This image has been carefully processed to reveal the many faint and dusty nebulae in this regio

Tom Davis

PIX4618385

Nebula NGC 7023 in Cephee - NGC 7023 (The Iris Nebula) in Cepheus - The Iris Nebula (NGC 7023) is a reflexion nebula illuminated by the massive star HD 200775. The bright star HD 200775 shining through the nebula NGC 7023 is a 10 solar mass star centrally imbedded in a region surrounded by ambient molecular cloud material. Suns are born from vast clouds of dust and gas that gather in the dark places between the stars. Gravity causes these interstellar vapors to collapse inward until the pressure causes high enough temperatures at its center to fuse hydrogen, the university's basic building block, into helium - an event that also releases gamma - ray photons. These photons can take a million years to travel outward through the overlying matter until they reach the surface and escape into space as visible light. The push of the photon's rush to make an exit also stops the cloud's collapse and thus what began as thin gas and dust becomes a brilliant star illuminating the heavens and possibly warming near - by planets. This picture shows a place in deep space where these kinds of events have occurred. The brilliant star near the center of the picture is young and very hot - in relative terms, it was only recently created. The cloud from which it formed still surrounds this young Sun but is being blown away by the push of star's massive radiation. This picture shows the way it looked 1,300 years ago due to the distance that separates it from Earth and the speed that light travels — Nebula NGC 7023 in Cephee - NGC 7023 (The Iris Nebula) in Cepheus - The Iris Nebula (NGC 7023) is a reflexion nebula illuminated by the massive star HD 200775. The bright star HD 200775 shining through the nebula NGC 7023 is a 10 solar mass star centrally imbedded in a region surrounded by ambient molecular cloud material. Suns are born from vast clouds of dust and gas that gather in the dark places between the stars. Gravity causes these interstellar vapors to collapse inward until the pressure causes high enough temperatures at its center to fuse hydrogen, the university's basic building block, into helium - an event that also releases gamma - ray photons. These photons can take a million years to travel outward through the overlying matter until they reach the surface and escape into space as visible light. The push of the photon's rush to make an exit also stops the cloud's collapse and thus what began as thin gas and dust becomes a brilliant star illuminating the heavens and possi

Nebula NGC 7023 in Cephee - NGC 7023 (The Iris Nebula) in Cepheus - The Iris Nebula (NGC 7023) is a reflexion nebula illuminated by the massive star HD 200775. The bright star HD 200775 shining through the nebula NGC 7023 is a 10 solar mass star centrally imbedded in a region surrounded by ambient molecular cloud material. Suns are born from vast clouds of dust and gas that gather in the dark places between the stars. Gravity causes these interstellar vapors to collapse inward until the pressure causes high enough temperatures at its center to fuse hydrogen, the university's basic building block, into helium - an event that also releases gamma - ray photons. These photons can take a million years to travel outward through the overlying matter until they reach the surface and escape into space as visible light. The push of the photon's rush to make an exit also stops the cloud's collapse and thus what began as thin gas and dust becomes a brilliant star illuminating the heavens and possi

Adam Block

PIX4620555

Stellar, 1995

UIS5093566

Rigel and the Witch Head Nebula, 2017 (digital photo)

Rigel and the Witch Head Nebula, 2017 (digital photo)

Cogo, Mario (21st century)

MMM7340923

Globular cluster NGC 6723 in Sagittarius - Globular cluster NGC 6723 in Sagittarius - This cluster of stars is located about 30,000 years ago - light from Earth

Globular cluster NGC 6723 in Sagittarius - Globular cluster NGC 6723 in Sagittarius - This cluster of stars is located about 30,000 years ago - light from Earth

PIX4565034

Nebula of the horse's head in Orion (IC 434) - The Horsehead is located in the constellation of Orion, slightly below the left - most star of the three that form the Hunter's belt. It is part of a vast molecular cloud of dust and gas that includes the Great Orion Nebula and extends throughout the entire constellation as well. It was first seen through photographs taken by E. Pickering in January 1900. The red coloration is the result of glowing hydrogen gas located primarily behind the formation. Here, we see the Horsehead as it appeared 1,500 years ago, due to distance and the time it takes light to travel. The bright complex of dust and gas below the Horsehead reflects the light given off by the bright star near it's center and is one of the brightest examples of reflection nebulae in the northern sky. The central star is surrounded with a thin shell of hydrogen that glows red by emitting it's own light in a rare example of a unique process called vibrational fluorescence. There are also an number of dark clumps of gas that represent stellar nurseries containing one or more new stars hidden within. The Horsehead can be challenging to see visually, but under very dark skies, many observers report that it can be glimpsed in silhouette with a ten inch telescope and an H - beta filter that accentuates the background hydrogen glow — Nebula of the horse's head in Orion (IC 434) - The Horsehead is located in the constellation of Orion, slightly below the left - most star of the three that form the Hunter's belt. It is part of a vast molecular cloud of dust and gas that includes the Great Orion Nebula and extends throughout the entire constellation as well. It was first seen through photographs taken by E. Pickering in January 1900. The red coloration is the result of glowing hydrogen gas located primarily behind the formation. Here, we see the Horsehead as it appeared 1,500 years ago, due to distance and the time it takes light to travel. The bright complex of dust and gas below the Horsehead reflects the light given off by the bright star near it's center and is one of the brightest examples of reflection nebulae in the northern sky. The central star is surrounded with a thin shell of hydrogen that glows red by emitting it's own light in a rare example of a unique process called vibrational fluorescence. There are

Nebula of the horse's head in Orion (IC 434) - The Horsehead is located in the constellation of Orion, slightly below the left - most star of the three that form the Hunter's belt. It is part of a vast molecular cloud of dust and gas that includes the Great Orion Nebula and extends throughout the entire constellation as well. It was first seen through photographs taken by E. Pickering in January 1900. The red coloration is the result of glowing hydrogen gas located primarily behind the formation. Here, we see the Horsehead as it appeared 1,500 years ago, due to distance and the time it takes light to travel. The bright complex of dust and gas below the Horsehead reflects the light given off by the bright star near it's center and is one of the brightest examples of reflection nebulae in the northern sky. The central star is surrounded with a thin shell of hydrogen that glows red by emitting it's own light in a rare example of a unique process called vibrational fluorescence. There are

R. Jay GaBany

PIX4622024

Nebulae IC 2948 and 2944 in Centaur - A large southern emission nebula, IC 2948 - Nebula IC 2948 is a vast nebula located about 6000 years from Earth in the southern constellation of Centaur. It is associated with the cluster of stars IC 2944 near which Bok's blood cells are visible. A Bok's blood cell is a dark interstellar cloud of gases and dust that absorb light. If it condenses enough, it gives birth to new stars. IC2944 is a large HII region (star forming cloud) in the southern constellation of Centaurus. The bright blue star in the upper right is Lambda Centauri, one of the brightest stars in the southern sky.The cluster of hot blue stars to the right of center are illuminating the gases of IC2944 and causing it to glow in the red and magenta light of excited hydrogen. The compact black objects adjacent to the bright blue stars are called Thackeray's Globules named for the astronomer A.D. Thackeray who described these in 1950. Thackeray Globules are similar to Bok Globules which are compact dark structures first described by the astronomer Bart Bok (1906 - 1983) in the 1940's. Bok Globules are small dark clouds of gas and dust that are found in HII regions and typically have a mass of about 10 to 50 solar masses. They often span a region of about one light year across. Their contents are predominantly molecular hydrogen, carbon oxides and helium but also contain about small amounts (1%) of silicate dust. Infrared observations in the 1990's detected the existence of protostars within the dense confines of Bok globules confirming the hypothesis of Bok, who strongly believed that these globules represented cocoons of starbirth. The larger Bok Globules seen in the image are about 1.4 light years across and contain enough mass to make 15 suns. Four Frame Mosaic, Total Exposure 28 Hours 14.5”” RCOS telescope — Nebulae IC 2948 and 2944 in Centaur - A large southern emission nebula, IC 2948 - Nebula IC 2948 is a vast nebula located about 6000 years from Earth in the southern constellation of Centaur. It is associated with the cluster of stars IC 2944 near which Bok's blood cells are visible. A Bok's blood cell is a dark interstellar cloud of gases and dust that absorb light. If it condenses enough, it gives birth to new stars. IC2944 is a large HII region (star forming cloud) in the southern constellation of Centaurus. The bright blue star in the upper right is Lambda Centauri, one of the brightest stars in the southern sky.The cluster of hot blue stars to the right of center are illuminating the gases of IC2944 and causing it to glow in the red and magenta light of excited hydrogen. The compact black objects adjacent to the bright blue stars are called Thackeray's Globules named for the astronomer A.D. Thackeray who described these in 1950. Thackeray Globules are similar to Bok Globules which

Nebulae IC 2948 and 2944 in Centaur - A large southern emission nebula, IC 2948 - Nebula IC 2948 is a vast nebula located about 6000 years from Earth in the southern constellation of Centaur. It is associated with the cluster of stars IC 2944 near which Bok's blood cells are visible. A Bok's blood cell is a dark interstellar cloud of gases and dust that absorb light. If it condenses enough, it gives birth to new stars. IC2944 is a large HII region (star forming cloud) in the southern constellation of Centaurus. The bright blue star in the upper right is Lambda Centauri, one of the brightest stars in the southern sky.The cluster of hot blue stars to the right of center are illuminating the gases of IC2944 and causing it to glow in the red and magenta light of excited hydrogen. The compact black objects adjacent to the bright blue stars are called Thackeray's Globules named for the astronomer A.D. Thackeray who described these in 1950. Thackeray Globules are similar to Bok Globules which

R. Gendler

PIX4622567

The Eagle Nebula, 1995

The Eagle Nebula, 1995

UIS5093384

Detail of the Eagle Nebula (M16) dans le serpent/HST - This eerie, dark structure, resembling an imaginary sea serpent's head, is a column of cool molecular hydrogen gas (two atoms of hydrogen in each molecule) and dust that is an incubator for new stars. The stars are embedded inside finger - like protrusions extending from the top of the nebula. Each “” fingertip”” is somewhat larger than our own solar system. The pillar is slowly eroding away by the ultraviolet light from nearby hot stars, a process called “” photoevaporation””. As it does, small globules of especially dense gas buried within the cloud is uncovered. These globules have been dubbed “” Eggs”” - - an acronym for “” Evaporating Gaseous Globules””. The shadows of the Eggs protect gas behind them, resulting in the finger - like structures at the top of the cloud. Forming inside at least some of the Eggs are embryonic stars - - stars that abruptly stop growing when the Eggs are uncovered and they are separated from the larger reservoir of gas from which they were drawing mass. Eventually the stars emerge, as the Eggs themselves succumb to photoevaporation. The stellar EGGS are found, appropriately enough, in the “” Eagle Nebula”” (also called M16 - - the 16th object in Charles Messier's 18th century catalog of “” fuzzy”” permanent objects in the sky), a nearby star - forming region 6,500 light - years away in the constellation Serpens. The picture was taken on April 1, 1995 with the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2. The color image is constructed from three separate images taken in the light of emission from different types of atoms. Red shows emission from singly - ionized sulfur atoms. Green shows emission from hydrogen. Blue shows light emitted by doubly - ionized oxygen atoms — Detail of the Eagle Nebula (M16) dans le serpent/HST - This eerie, dark structure, resembling an imaginary sea serpent's head, is a column of cool molecular hydrogen gas (two atoms of hydrogen in each molecule) and dust that is an incubator for new stars. The stars are embedded inside finger - like protrusions extending from the top of the nebula. Each “” fingertip”” is somewhat larger than our own solar system. The pillar is slowly eroding away by the ultraviolet light from nearby hot stars, a process called “” photoevaporation””. As it does, small globules of especially dense gas buried within the cloud is uncovered. These globules have been dubbed “” Eggs”” - - an acronym for “” Evaporating Gaseous Globules””. The shadows of the Eggs protect gas behind them, resulting in the finger - like structures at the top of the cloud. Forming inside at least some of the Eggs are embryonic stars - - stars that abruptly stop growing when the Eggs are uncovered and they are separated from the lar

Detail of the Eagle Nebula (M16) dans le serpent/HST - This eerie, dark structure, resembling an imaginary sea serpent's head, is a column of cool molecular hydrogen gas (two atoms of hydrogen in each molecule) and dust that is an incubator for new stars. The stars are embedded inside finger - like protrusions extending from the top of the nebula. Each “” fingertip”” is somewhat larger than our own solar system. The pillar is slowly eroding away by the ultraviolet light from nearby hot stars, a process called “” photoevaporation””. As it does, small globules of especially dense gas buried within the cloud is uncovered. These globules have been dubbed “” Eggs”” - - an acronym for “” Evaporating Gaseous Globules””. The shadows of the Eggs protect gas behind them, resulting in the finger - like structures at the top of the cloud. Forming inside at least some of the Eggs are embryonic stars - - stars that abruptly stop growing when the Eggs are uncovered and they are separated from the lar

PIX4620033

Spiral galaxy M81 in the Great Bear - Spiral galaxy M81 in Ursa Major - The spiral galaxy M81 is located 12 million years ago - light from Earth. Its arms are home to star-forming regions while its core is surrounded by much older yellow stars. In the background at the top, an irregular dwarf galaxy, Holmberg IX. Image obtained by an amateur telescope of 50 cm, composting different poses. M81 is the brightest member of the nearby galactic group called the M81 group. This group contains at least 25 other members including the peculiar starburst galaxy M82, the peculiar galaxy NGC 3077 and many dwarfs galaxies. The core galaxies of the group (M81, M82, NGC 3077, NGC 2976) are strongly interacting and are all imbedded within a large and extended molecular gas cloud. The Dwarf irregular Holmberg IX (seen above M81 in the image) most likely condensed from tidal debri existing between M81 and M82. M81 has the distinction of being the nearest spiral galaxy to have an active galactic nucleus (AGN). AGN galaxies are luminous galaxies that demonstrate much of their luminosity as nonstellar emission arising from their nucleus. The modern interpretation for the unusual energy output is the presence of a super massive black hole which consumes infalling matter from a rotating accretion disk in the galaxy's center — Spiral galaxy M81 in the Great Bear - Spiral galaxy M81 in Ursa Major - The spiral galaxy M81 is located 12 million years ago - light from Earth. Its arms are home to star-forming regions while its core is surrounded by much older yellow stars. In the background at the top, an irregular dwarf galaxy, Holmberg IX. Image obtained by an amateur telescope of 50 cm, composting different poses. M81 is the brightest member of the nearby galactic group called the M81 group. This group contains at least 25 other members including the peculiar starburst galaxy M82, the peculiar galaxy NGC 3077 and many dwarfs galaxies. The core galaxies of the group (M81, M82, NGC 3077, NGC 2976) are strongly interacting and are all imbedded within a large and extended molecular gas cloud. The Dwarf irregular Holmberg IX (seen above M81 in the image) most likely condensed from tidal debri existing between M81 and M82. M81 has the distinction of being the nearest spiral galaxy to have an active galactic nucleus (

Spiral galaxy M81 in the Great Bear - Spiral galaxy M81 in Ursa Major - The spiral galaxy M81 is located 12 million years ago - light from Earth. Its arms are home to star-forming regions while its core is surrounded by much older yellow stars. In the background at the top, an irregular dwarf galaxy, Holmberg IX. Image obtained by an amateur telescope of 50 cm, composting different poses. M81 is the brightest member of the nearby galactic group called the M81 group. This group contains at least 25 other members including the peculiar starburst galaxy M82, the peculiar galaxy NGC 3077 and many dwarfs galaxies. The core galaxies of the group (M81, M82, NGC 3077, NGC 2976) are strongly interacting and are all imbedded within a large and extended molecular gas cloud. The Dwarf irregular Holmberg IX (seen above M81 in the image) most likely condensed from tidal debri existing between M81 and M82. M81 has the distinction of being the nearest spiral galaxy to have an active galactic nucleus (

R. Jay GaBany

PIX4610325

Spiral galaxy M81 in the Great Bear - Spiral galaxy M81 in Ursa Major - The spiral galaxy M81 is located 12 million years ago - light from Earth. Its arms are home to star-forming regions while its core is surrounded by much older yellow stars. An irregular dwarf galaxy, PGC 28757 (Holmberg IX), is visible at the top of the picture. Image obtained with a 50 cm telescope through different filters, total of different poses: 20h. M81 is the brightest member of the nearby galactic group called the M81 group. This group contains at least 25 other members including the peculiar starburst galaxy M82, the peculiar galaxy NGC 3077 and many dwarfs galaxies. The core galaxies of the group (M81, M82, NGC 3077, NGC 2976) are strongly interacting and are all imbedded within a large and extended molecular gas cloud. The Dwarf irregular Holmberg IX (seen above M81 in the image) most likely condensed from tidal debri existing between M81 and M82. M81 has the distinction of being the nearest spiral galaxy to have an active galactic nucleus (AGN). AGN galaxies are luminous galaxies that demonstrate much of their luminosity as nonstellar emission arising from their nucleus. The modern interpretation for the unusual energy output is the presence of a super massive black hole which consumes infalling matter from a rotating accretion disk in the galaxy's center — Spiral galaxy M81 in the Great Bear - Spiral galaxy M81 in Ursa Major - The spiral galaxy M81 is located 12 million years ago - light from Earth. Its arms are home to star-forming regions while its core is surrounded by much older yellow stars. An irregular dwarf galaxy, PGC 28757 (Holmberg IX), is visible at the top of the picture. Image obtained with a 50 cm telescope through different filters, total of different poses: 20h. M81 is the brightest member of the nearby galactic group called the M81 group. This group contains at least 25 other members including the peculiar starburst galaxy M82, the peculiar galaxy NGC 3077 and many dwarfs galaxies. The core galaxies of the group (M81, M82, NGC 3077, NGC 2976) are strongly interacting and are all imbedded within a large and extended molecular gas cloud. The Dwarf irregular Holmberg IX (seen above M81 in the image) most likely condensed from tidal debri existing between M81 and M82. M81 has the distinction of being the nearest spiral gala

Spiral galaxy M81 in the Great Bear - Spiral galaxy M81 in Ursa Major - The spiral galaxy M81 is located 12 million years ago - light from Earth. Its arms are home to star-forming regions while its core is surrounded by much older yellow stars. An irregular dwarf galaxy, PGC 28757 (Holmberg IX), is visible at the top of the picture. Image obtained with a 50 cm telescope through different filters, total of different poses: 20h. M81 is the brightest member of the nearby galactic group called the M81 group. This group contains at least 25 other members including the peculiar starburst galaxy M82, the peculiar galaxy NGC 3077 and many dwarfs galaxies. The core galaxies of the group (M81, M82, NGC 3077, NGC 2976) are strongly interacting and are all imbedded within a large and extended molecular gas cloud. The Dwarf irregular Holmberg IX (seen above M81 in the image) most likely condensed from tidal debri existing between M81 and M82. M81 has the distinction of being the nearest spiral gala

R. Gendler

PIX4610335

Spiral galaxy M81 in the Great Bear - Spiral galaxy M81 in Ursa Major: The spiral galaxy M81 is located 12 million light years from Earth. Its arms are home to star-forming regions while its core is surrounded by much older yellow stars. An irregular dwarf galaxy, PGC 28757 (Holmberg IX), is visible at the top of the picture. - M81 is the brightest member of the nearby galactic group called the M81 group. This group contains at least 25 other members including the peculiar starburst galaxy M82, the peculiar galaxy NGC 3077 and many dwarfs galaxies. The core galaxies of the group (M81, M82, NGC 3077, NGC 2976) are strongly interacting and are all imbedded within a large and extended molecular gas cloud. The Dwarf irregular Holmberg IX (seen above M81 in the image) most likely condensed from tidal debri existing between M81 and M82. M81 has the distinction of being the nearest spiral galaxy to have an active galactic nucleus (AGN). AGN galaxies are luminous galaxies that demonstrate much of their luminosity as nonstellar emission arising from their nucleus. The modern interpretation for the unusual energy output is the presence of a super massive black hole which consumes infalling matter from a rotating accretion disk in the galaxy's center. Composite Image from Multiple Data Sources — Spiral galaxy M81 in the Great Bear - Spiral galaxy M81 in Ursa Major: The spiral galaxy M81 is located 12 million light years from Earth. Its arms are home to star-forming regions while its core is surrounded by much older yellow stars. An irregular dwarf galaxy, PGC 28757 (Holmberg IX), is visible at the top of the picture. - M81 is the brightest member of the nearby galactic group called the M81 group. This group contains at least 25 other members including the peculiar starburst galaxy M82, the peculiar galaxy NGC 3077 and many dwarfs galaxies. The core galaxies of the group (M81, M82, NGC 3077, NGC 2976) are strongly interacting and are all imbedded within a large and extended molecular gas cloud. The Dwarf irregular Holmberg IX (seen above M81 in the image) most likely condensed from tidal debri existing between M81 and M82. M81 has the distinction of being the nearest spiral galaxy to have an active galactic nucleus (AGN). AGN galaxies are luminous galaxies that demonstrate much

Spiral galaxy M81 in the Great Bear - Spiral galaxy M81 in Ursa Major: The spiral galaxy M81 is located 12 million light years from Earth. Its arms are home to star-forming regions while its core is surrounded by much older yellow stars. An irregular dwarf galaxy, PGC 28757 (Holmberg IX), is visible at the top of the picture. - M81 is the brightest member of the nearby galactic group called the M81 group. This group contains at least 25 other members including the peculiar starburst galaxy M82, the peculiar galaxy NGC 3077 and many dwarfs galaxies. The core galaxies of the group (M81, M82, NGC 3077, NGC 2976) are strongly interacting and are all imbedded within a large and extended molecular gas cloud. The Dwarf irregular Holmberg IX (seen above M81 in the image) most likely condensed from tidal debri existing between M81 and M82. M81 has the distinction of being the nearest spiral galaxy to have an active galactic nucleus (AGN). AGN galaxies are luminous galaxies that demonstrate much

PIX4610399

Star field in the constellation Sagittarius - Scattered stars in Sagittarius: Stars in Sagittarius seen by the space telescope Hubble. This colourful and star-studded view of the Milky Way galaxy was captured when the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope pointed its cameras towards the constellation of Sagittarius (The Archer). Blue stars can be seen scattered across the frame, set against a distant backdrop of red-hued cosmic companions. This blue litter most likely formed at the same time from the same collapsing molecular cloud. The colour of a star can reveal many of its secrets. Shades of red indicate a star much cooler than the Sun, so either at the end of its life, or much less massive. These low-mass stars are called red dwarfs and are thought to be the most common type of star within the Milky Way. Similarly, brilliant blue hues indicate hot, young, or massive stars, many times the mass of the Sun. A star's mass decides its fate; more massive stars burn brightly over a short lifespan, and die young after only tens of millions of years. Stars like the Sun typically have more sedentary lifestyles and live longer, burning for approximately ten billion years. Smaller stars, on the other hand, live life in the slow lane and are predicted to exist for trillions of years, well beyond the current age of the Universe — Star field in the constellation Sagittarius - Scattered stars in Sagittarius: Stars in Sagittarius seen by the space telescope Hubble. This colourful and star-studded view of the Milky Way galaxy was captured when the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope pointed its cameras towards the constellation of Sagittarius (The Archer). Blue stars can be seen scattered across the frame, set against a distant backdrop of red-hued cosmic companions. This blue litter most likely formed at the same time from the same collapsing molecular cloud. The colour of a star can reveal many of its secrets. Shades of red indicate a star much cooler than the Sun, so either at the end of its life, or much less massive. These low-mass stars are called red dwarfs and are thought to be the most common type of star within the Milky Way. Similarly, brilliant blue hues indicate hot, young, or massive stars, many times the mass of the Sun. A star's mass decides its fate; more massive stars burn brightly over a short lifesp

Star field in the constellation Sagittarius - Scattered stars in Sagittarius: Stars in Sagittarius seen by the space telescope Hubble. This colourful and star-studded view of the Milky Way galaxy was captured when the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope pointed its cameras towards the constellation of Sagittarius (The Archer). Blue stars can be seen scattered across the frame, set against a distant backdrop of red-hued cosmic companions. This blue litter most likely formed at the same time from the same collapsing molecular cloud. The colour of a star can reveal many of its secrets. Shades of red indicate a star much cooler than the Sun, so either at the end of its life, or much less massive. These low-mass stars are called red dwarfs and are thought to be the most common type of star within the Milky Way. Similarly, brilliant blue hues indicate hot, young, or massive stars, many times the mass of the Sun. A star's mass decides its fate; more massive stars burn brightly over a short lifesp

PIX4572243

Spiral galaxy M81 in the Great Bear - Spiral galaxy M81 in Ursa Major - The spiral galaxy M81 is located 12 million years ago - light from Earth. Its arms are home to star-forming regions while its core is surrounded by much older yellow stars. An irregular dwarf galaxy, PGC 28757 (Holmberg IX), is visible at the top of the picture. M81 is the brightest member of the nearby galactic group called the M81 group. This group contains at least 25 other members including the peculiar starburst galaxy M82, the peculiar galaxy NGC 3077 and many dwarfs galaxies. The core galaxies of the group (M81, M82, NGC 3077, NGC 2976) are strongly interacting and are all imbedded within a large and extended molecular gas cloud. The Dwarf irregular Holmberg IX (seen above M81 in the image) most likely condensed from tidal debri existing between M81 and M82. M81 has the distinction of being the nearest spiral galaxy to have an active galactic nucleus (AGN). AGN galaxies are luminous galaxies that demonstrate much of their luminosity as nonstellar emission arising from their nucleus. The modern interpretation for the unusual energy output is the presence of a super massive black hole which consumes infalling matter from a rotating accretion disk in the galaxy's center — Spiral galaxy M81 in the Great Bear - Spiral galaxy M81 in Ursa Major - The spiral galaxy M81 is located 12 million years ago - light from Earth. Its arms are home to star-forming regions while its core is surrounded by much older yellow stars. An irregular dwarf galaxy, PGC 28757 (Holmberg IX), is visible at the top of the picture. M81 is the brightest member of the nearby galactic group called the M81 group. This group contains at least 25 other members including the peculiar starburst galaxy M82, the peculiar galaxy NGC 3077 and many dwarfs galaxies. The core galaxies of the group (M81, M82, NGC 3077, NGC 2976) are strongly interacting and are all imbedded within a large and extended molecular gas cloud. The Dwarf irregular Holmberg IX (seen above M81 in the image) most likely condensed from tidal debri existing between M81 and M82. M81 has the distinction of being the nearest spiral galaxy to have an active galactic nucleus (AGN). AGN galaxies are luminous galaxies that demonstrate

Spiral galaxy M81 in the Great Bear - Spiral galaxy M81 in Ursa Major - The spiral galaxy M81 is located 12 million years ago - light from Earth. Its arms are home to star-forming regions while its core is surrounded by much older yellow stars. An irregular dwarf galaxy, PGC 28757 (Holmberg IX), is visible at the top of the picture. M81 is the brightest member of the nearby galactic group called the M81 group. This group contains at least 25 other members including the peculiar starburst galaxy M82, the peculiar galaxy NGC 3077 and many dwarfs galaxies. The core galaxies of the group (M81, M82, NGC 3077, NGC 2976) are strongly interacting and are all imbedded within a large and extended molecular gas cloud. The Dwarf irregular Holmberg IX (seen above M81 in the image) most likely condensed from tidal debri existing between M81 and M82. M81 has the distinction of being the nearest spiral galaxy to have an active galactic nucleus (AGN). AGN galaxies are luminous galaxies that demonstrate

R. Gendler

PIX4610379

Nebula NGC 7635 in Cassiopee - The Bubble Nebula: This nebula is located about 8000 light years from Earth. A star 40 times more massive than our Sun, called Wolf-Rayet, is responsible for the formation of this bubble; it is the star BD+60* 2522. Image obtained by the space telescope Hubble - The Bubble Nebula, also known as NGC 7635, is an emission nebula located 8 000 light-years away - This complete view of the Bubble Nebula allows us to fully appreciate the almost perfectly symmetrical shell which gives the nebula its name. This shell is the result of a powerful flow of gas - known as a stellar wind - from the bright star visible just to the left of centre in this image. The star, SAO 20575, is between ten and twenty times the mass of the Sun and the pressure created by its stellar wind forces the surrounding interstellar material outwards into this bubble-like form - The giant molecular cloud that surrounds the star - glowing in the star's intense ultraviolet radiation - tries to stop the expansion of the bubble. However, although the sphere already measures around ten light-years in diameter, it is still growing, owing to the constant pressure of the stellar wind - currently at more than 100,000 kilometers per hour! - This stunning new image was observed by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope — Nebula NGC 7635 in Cassiopee - The Bubble Nebula: This nebula is located about 8000 light years from Earth. A star 40 times more massive than our Sun, called Wolf-Rayet, is responsible for the formation of this bubble; it is the star BD+60* 2522. Image obtained by the space telescope Hubble - The Bubble Nebula, also known as NGC 7635, is an emission nebula located 8 000 light-years away - This complete view of the Bubble Nebula allows us to fully appreciate the almost perfectly symmetrical shell which gives the nebula its name. This shell is the result of a powerful flow of gas - known as a stellar wind - from the bright star visible just to the left of centre in this image. The star, SAO 20575, is between ten and twenty times the mass of the Sun and the pressure created by its stellar wind forces the surrounding interstellar material outwards into this bubble-like form - The giant molecular cloud that surrounds the star - glowing in the star's intense ultraviolet radiation - tries to

Nebula NGC 7635 in Cassiopee - The Bubble Nebula: This nebula is located about 8000 light years from Earth. A star 40 times more massive than our Sun, called Wolf-Rayet, is responsible for the formation of this bubble; it is the star BD+60* 2522. Image obtained by the space telescope Hubble - The Bubble Nebula, also known as NGC 7635, is an emission nebula located 8 000 light-years away - This complete view of the Bubble Nebula allows us to fully appreciate the almost perfectly symmetrical shell which gives the nebula its name. This shell is the result of a powerful flow of gas - known as a stellar wind - from the bright star visible just to the left of centre in this image. The star, SAO 20575, is between ten and twenty times the mass of the Sun and the pressure created by its stellar wind forces the surrounding interstellar material outwards into this bubble-like form - The giant molecular cloud that surrounds the star - glowing in the star's intense ultraviolet radiation - tries to

PIX4620728

Nebula M43 in Orion - M43 nebula in Orion - Nebula M43 (NGC 1982) is part of the great Nebula of Orion (M42), a vast region of star formation. This image obtained by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) shows a detail of the nebula people of bright young stars accompanied by very young stars still surrounded by their cocoon of dust. The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has taken a close - up view of an outer part of the Orion Nebula's little brother, Messier 43. This nebula, which is sometimes referred to as De Mairan's Nebula after its discoverer, is separated from the famous Orion Nebula (Messier 42) by only a dark lane of dust. Both nebulae are part of the massive stellar nursery called the Orion molecular cloud complex, which includes several other nebulae, such as the Horsehead Nebula (Barnard 33) and the Flame Nebula (NGC 2024). This view shows several of the brilliant hot young stars in this less - studied region and it also reveals many of the curious features around even younger stars that are still cocooned by dust. This picture was created from images taken using the Wide Field Channel of Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys. Images through yellow (F555W, coloured blue) and near - infrared (F814W, coloured red) filters were combined. The exposure times were 1000 s per filter and the field of view is about 3.3 arcminutes across — Nebula M43 in Orion - M43 nebula in Orion - Nebula M43 (NGC 1982) is part of the great Nebula of Orion (M42), a vast region of star formation. This image obtained by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) shows a detail of the nebula people of bright young stars accompanied by very young stars still surrounded by their cocoon of dust. The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has taken a close - up view of an outer part of the Orion Nebula's little brother, Messier 43. This nebula, which is sometimes referred to as De Mairan's Nebula after its discoverer, is separated from the famous Orion Nebula (Messier 42) by only a dark lane of dust. Both nebulae are part of the massive stellar nursery called the Orion molecular cloud complex, which includes several other nebulae, such as the Horsehead Nebula (Barnard 33) and the Flame Nebula (NGC 2024). This view shows several of the brilliant hot young stars in this less - studied region and it also reveals many of the curious features around even younger st

Nebula M43 in Orion - M43 nebula in Orion - Nebula M43 (NGC 1982) is part of the great Nebula of Orion (M42), a vast region of star formation. This image obtained by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) shows a detail of the nebula people of bright young stars accompanied by very young stars still surrounded by their cocoon of dust. The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has taken a close - up view of an outer part of the Orion Nebula's little brother, Messier 43. This nebula, which is sometimes referred to as De Mairan's Nebula after its discoverer, is separated from the famous Orion Nebula (Messier 42) by only a dark lane of dust. Both nebulae are part of the massive stellar nursery called the Orion molecular cloud complex, which includes several other nebulae, such as the Horsehead Nebula (Barnard 33) and the Flame Nebula (NGC 2024). This view shows several of the brilliant hot young stars in this less - studied region and it also reveals many of the curious features around even younger st

PIX4618093

Nebula IC 1396 in Cephee infrared view - 18/12/2003 The large composite image on the left is a product of combining data from the observator's multiband imaging photometer and the infrared array camera. The thermal emission at 24 microns measured by the photometer (red) is combined with near - infrared emission from the camera at 3.6/4.5 microns (blue) and from 5.8/8.0 microns (green). The colors of the diffuse emission and filaments vary, and are a combination of molecular hydrogen (which tends to be green) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (brown) emissions. Nasa's Spitzer Space Telescope image of a glowing stellar nursery provides a spectacular contrast to the opaque cloud seen in visible light. The Elephant's Trunk Nebula is an elongated dark globule within the emission nebula IC 1396 in the constellation of Cepheus. Located at a distance of 2,450 light - years, the globule is a condensation of dense gas that is barely surviving the strong ionizing radiation from a nearby massive star. The globule is being compressed by the surrounding ionized gas. The dark globule is seen in silhouette at visible - light wavelengths, backlit by the illumination of a bright star located to the left of the field of view. The Spitzer Space Telescope pierces through the obscuration to reveal the birth of new protostars, or embryonic stars, and previously unseen young stars. The infrared image, was obtained by Spitzer's infrared array camera. The filamentary appearance of the globule results from the sculpting effects of competing physical processes. The winds from a massive star, located to the left of the image, produce a dense circular rim comprising the 'head' of the globule and a swept - back tail of gas — Nebula IC 1396 in Cephee infrared view - 18/12/2003 The large composite image on the left is a product of combining data from the observator's multiband imaging photometer and the infrared array camera. The thermal emission at 24 microns measured by the photometer (red) is combined with near - infrared emission from the camera at 3.6/4.5 microns (blue) and from 5.8/8.0 microns (green). The colors of the diffuse emission and filaments vary, and are a combination of molecular hydrogen (which tends to be green) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (brown) emissions. Nasa's Spitzer Space Telescope image of a glowing stellar nursery provides a spectacular contrast to the opaque cloud seen in visible light. The Elephant's Trunk Nebula is an elongated dark globule within the emission nebula IC 1396 in the constellation of Cepheus. Located at a distance of 2,450 light - years, the globule is a condensation of dense gas that is barely surviving the strong ionizing radiation from a nearby massive

Nebula IC 1396 in Cephee infrared view - 18/12/2003 The large composite image on the left is a product of combining data from the observator's multiband imaging photometer and the infrared array camera. The thermal emission at 24 microns measured by the photometer (red) is combined with near - infrared emission from the camera at 3.6/4.5 microns (blue) and from 5.8/8.0 microns (green). The colors of the diffuse emission and filaments vary, and are a combination of molecular hydrogen (which tends to be green) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (brown) emissions. Nasa's Spitzer Space Telescope image of a glowing stellar nursery provides a spectacular contrast to the opaque cloud seen in visible light. The Elephant's Trunk Nebula is an elongated dark globule within the emission nebula IC 1396 in the constellation of Cepheus. Located at a distance of 2,450 light - years, the globule is a condensation of dense gas that is barely surviving the strong ionizing radiation from a nearby massive

PIX4622272

Bok's cells in NGC 281 (Cassiopee) - Bok globules in NGC 281 - View of a detail of the nebula NGC 281 in Cassiopee center on Bok's Globules. A Bok's blood cell is a dark interstellar cloud of gases and dust that absorb light. If it condenses enough, it gives birth to new stars. Near these blood cells shine blue stars; they belong to the young cluster of stars IC 1590. Image obtained by the Hubble Space Telescope in October 2005. These opaque, dark knots of gas and dust are called “” Bok globules,””” and they are absorbing light in the center of the nearby emission nebula and star - forming region. Bok hypothesized that giant molecular clouds, on the order of hundreds of light - years in size, can become perturbed and form small pockets where the dust and gas are highly concentrated. These small pockets become gravitationally bound and accumulate dust and gas from the surrounding area. If they can capture enough mass, they have the potential of creating stars in their cores; however, not all Bok globules will form stars. Some will dissipate before they can collapse to form stars. That may be what's happening to the globules seen here in NGC 281. Near the globules are bright blue stars, members of the young open cluster IC 1590. The cluster is made up of a few hundred stars. The club's core, off the image towards the top, is a tight grouping of extremely hot, massive stars with an immense stellar wind. The stars emit visible and ultraviolet light that energizes the surrounding hydrogen gas in NGC 281. This gas then becomes super heated in a process called ionization, and it glows pink in the image. The Bok globules in NGC 281 are located very close to the center of the IC 1590 cluster. The heavy fracturing of the globules may appear beautifully serene but is in fact evident of the harsh — Bok's cells in NGC 281 (Cassiopee) - Bok globules in NGC 281 - View of a detail of the nebula NGC 281 in Cassiopee center on Bok's Globules. A Bok's blood cell is a dark interstellar cloud of gases and dust that absorb light. If it condenses enough, it gives birth to new stars. Near these blood cells shine blue stars; they belong to the young cluster of stars IC 1590. Image obtained by the Hubble Space Telescope in October 2005. These opaque, dark knots of gas and dust are called “” Bok globules,””” and they are absorbing light in the center of the nearby emission nebula and star - forming region. Bok hypothesized that giant molecular clouds, on the order of hundreds of light - years in size, can become perturbed and form small pockets where the dust and gas are highly concentrated. These small pockets become gravitationally bound and accumulate dust and gas from the surrounding area. If they can capture enough mass, they have the potential of creating stars in their cores; however, no

Bok's cells in NGC 281 (Cassiopee) - Bok globules in NGC 281 - View of a detail of the nebula NGC 281 in Cassiopee center on Bok's Globules. A Bok's blood cell is a dark interstellar cloud of gases and dust that absorb light. If it condenses enough, it gives birth to new stars. Near these blood cells shine blue stars; they belong to the young cluster of stars IC 1590. Image obtained by the Hubble Space Telescope in October 2005. These opaque, dark knots of gas and dust are called “” Bok globules,””” and they are absorbing light in the center of the nearby emission nebula and star - forming region. Bok hypothesized that giant molecular clouds, on the order of hundreds of light - years in size, can become perturbed and form small pockets where the dust and gas are highly concentrated. These small pockets become gravitationally bound and accumulate dust and gas from the surrounding area. If they can capture enough mass, they have the potential of creating stars in their cores; however, no

PIX4617491

Star Formation in the DR21 Region - Star Formation in the DR21 Region - This star formation region is about 6200 years old - light. Hidden in light visible by interstellar dust, this region rises in infrared light. Gas filaments appear in red; they emphasize the presence of aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons (PAH); they are organic molecules composed of carbon atoms and hydrogen that could be the germs on which the first bricks of life appeared. Composite image in different wavelengths obtained by the Spitzer space telescope; in blue the visible light, in yellow and red the infrared light. Hidden behind a shroud of dust in the constellation Cygnus is a stellar nursery called DR21, which is giving birth to some of the most massive stars in our galaxy. Visible light images reveal no trace of this interstellar cauldron because of heavy dust obscuration. This image from Nasa's Spitzer Space Telescope allow us to peek behind the cosmic veil and pinpoint one of the most massive natal stars yet seen in our Milky Way galaxy. The never - before - seen star is 100,000 times as bright as the Sun. Also revealed for the first time is a powerful outflow of hot gas emanating from this star and bursting through a giant molecular cloud. This colorful image is a large - scale composite mosaic assembled from data collected at a variety of different wavelengths. Views at visible wavelengths appear blue, near - infrared light is depicted as green, and mid - infrared data is portrayed as red. The result is a contrast between structures seen in visible light (blue) and those observed in the infrared (yellow and red). The image covers an area about two times that of a full moon. The red filaments stretching across the Spitzer image denote the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. These organic molecules, comprised of carbon and hydrogen, are excited by surrounding i — Star Formation in the DR21 Region - Star Formation in the DR21 Region - This star formation region is about 6200 years old - light. Hidden in light visible by interstellar dust, this region rises in infrared light. Gas filaments appear in red; they emphasize the presence of aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons (PAH); they are organic molecules composed of carbon atoms and hydrogen that could be the germs on which the first bricks of life appeared. Composite image in different wavelengths obtained by the Spitzer space telescope; in blue the visible light, in yellow and red the infrared light. Hidden behind a shroud of dust in the constellation Cygnus is a stellar nursery called DR21, which is giving birth to some of the most massive stars in our galaxy. Visible light images reveal no trace of this interstellar cauldron because of heavy dust obscuration. This image from Nasa's Spitzer Space Telescope allow us to peek behind the cosmic veil and pinpoint one of the most massive natal stars yet

Star Formation in the DR21 Region - Star Formation in the DR21 Region - This star formation region is about 6200 years old - light. Hidden in light visible by interstellar dust, this region rises in infrared light. Gas filaments appear in red; they emphasize the presence of aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons (PAH); they are organic molecules composed of carbon atoms and hydrogen that could be the germs on which the first bricks of life appeared. Composite image in different wavelengths obtained by the Spitzer space telescope; in blue the visible light, in yellow and red the infrared light. Hidden behind a shroud of dust in the constellation Cygnus is a stellar nursery called DR21, which is giving birth to some of the most massive stars in our galaxy. Visible light images reveal no trace of this interstellar cauldron because of heavy dust obscuration. This image from Nasa's Spitzer Space Telescope allow us to peek behind the cosmic veil and pinpoint one of the most massive natal stars yet

PIX4621115

Cluster of stars South Serpent - The Serpens South star cluster - Cluster of fifty very young stars (35 of which are still only proto - stars, stars in formation) observed by the Spitzer space telescope on 27 October 2006 in the constellation of the Serpent. Located only 848 years from Earth, this cluster of stars is completely masked by interstellar dust and is only revealed in infrared light. Red filaments in the background are organic molecules, PAH (aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons composed of carbon atoms and hydrogen. In this image, Nasa's Spitzer Space Telescope spots the Serpens South star cluster, which consists of a relatively dense group of 50 young stars - - 35 of which are protostars, or stellar infants, that are just beginning to form. Stellar members of Serpens South star cluster can be seen as the green, yellow, and orange tinted specks sitting atop the black dust lane running down the center of the image. Like raindrops, stars form when thick patches of cosmic clouds condense. Tints of green in the image represent hot hydrogen gas excited when high - speed jets of gas ejected by infant stars collide with the cool gas in the surrounding cloud. Wisps of red in the background are organic molecules called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHS), which are being excited by stellar radiation from a neighboring star - forming region located to the east of this image, called W40. On Earth PAHS are found on charred barbeque grills and in the sooty automobile exhaust — Cluster of stars South Serpent - The Serpens South star cluster - Cluster of fifty very young stars (35 of which are still only proto - stars, stars in formation) observed by the Spitzer space telescope on 27 October 2006 in the constellation of the Serpent. Located only 848 years from Earth, this cluster of stars is completely masked by interstellar dust and is only revealed in infrared light. Red filaments in the background are organic molecules, PAH (aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons composed of carbon atoms and hydrogen. In this image, Nasa's Spitzer Space Telescope spots the Serpens South star cluster, which consists of a relatively dense group of 50 young stars - - 35 of which are protostars, or stellar infants, that are just beginning to form. Stellar members of Serpens South star cluster can be seen as the green, yellow, and orange tinted specks sitting atop the black dust lane running down the center of the image. Like raindrops, stars form when thick patches of cosmic clouds c

Cluster of stars South Serpent - The Serpens South star cluster - Cluster of fifty very young stars (35 of which are still only proto - stars, stars in formation) observed by the Spitzer space telescope on 27 October 2006 in the constellation of the Serpent. Located only 848 years from Earth, this cluster of stars is completely masked by interstellar dust and is only revealed in infrared light. Red filaments in the background are organic molecules, PAH (aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons composed of carbon atoms and hydrogen. In this image, Nasa's Spitzer Space Telescope spots the Serpens South star cluster, which consists of a relatively dense group of 50 young stars - - 35 of which are protostars, or stellar infants, that are just beginning to form. Stellar members of Serpens South star cluster can be seen as the green, yellow, and orange tinted specks sitting atop the black dust lane running down the center of the image. Like raindrops, stars form when thick patches of cosmic clouds c

PIX4569048

Nebula of the Lagoon (M8) in Sagittarius - The Lagoon Nebula, M8, NGC 6523 - View of the Nebula of the Lagoon (M8/NGC 6523). Located in Sagittarius, at a distance of 6500 years - light, it extends over a diameter of 60 AL. Image made with the 1.2m Telescope of Schmidt UK from Siding Spring. The irregular distribution of light in this beautiful part of the sky is due mainly to clouds of dust that dim the light of vast clouds of stars that make Sagittarius one of the brightest parts of the Milky Way. The Lagoon nebula is an illuminated part of such a dark ('molecule') cloud and it reveals the dust as dark lanes and globules silhouetted against the luminous gas. Within the nebula is the scattered young star cluster NGC 6530, recently formed from this material, though the centre of star - forming activity has now shifted westwards from the cluster to the brightest part of the nebula, around the tiny Hourglass Nebula

Nebula of the Lagoon (M8) in Sagittarius - The Lagoon Nebula, M8, NGC 6523 - View of the Nebula of the Lagoon (M8/NGC 6523). Located in Sagittarius, at a distance of 6500 years - light, it extends over a diameter of 60 AL. Image made with the 1.2m Telescope of Schmidt UK from Siding Spring. The irregular distribution of light in this beautiful part of the sky is due mainly to clouds of dust that dim the light of vast clouds of stars that make Sagittarius one of the brightest parts of the Milky Way. The Lagoon nebula is an illuminated part of such a dark ('molecule') cloud and it reveals the dust as dark lanes and globules silhouetted against the luminous gas. Within the nebula is the scattered young star cluster NGC 6530, recently formed from this material, though the centre of star - forming activity has now shifted westwards from the cluster to the brightest part of the nebula, around the tiny Hourglass Nebula

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