Star Clouds Toward the Southern Crown
Explanation:
The flowing trails of dust toward
Corona Australis, the
constellation of the
Southern Crown, are visible here because not because they
glow, but because they
absorb and
reflect.
The
dust appears bluer
when seen near bright stars because it
preferentially reflects blue light.
The densest knots of
dust are so thick that
no background stars or interior stars can be seen through them.
These knots indicate
molecular clouds filled with cool gas where
future stars will likely form.
The
above image spans about 5 degrees while the
reflection nebula
lies about 500
light-years distant.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
