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> A dark cloud in Scorpius

A dark cloud in Scorpius

author: Anglo-Australian Observatory/David Malin Images/Novapix

reference: a-neb98-00111

Image Size 300 DPI: 51 * 40 cm

This curious un-named nebula is governed by radiation from very luminous stars some distance from the nebula. The direction of the radiation source can be seen from the flow pattern in the dark cloud and the extensive bright red rims at the end of the nebula that is exposed to radiation from the hot stars. This part of the nebula is reminiscent of the famous Horsehead nebula in Orion, which is also the consequence of starlight destroying a dark cloud. The source of the energy here is the Scorpius OB association, a group of brilliant, very hot stars, about 5000 light years away from us.

Keywords for this photo:

AAO - ASTRONOMY - COMETARY GLOBULE - DARK NEBULA - NEBULA - POSTER - SCORPIUS - SIDING SPRING - STAR - STAR FORMATION -