CG4: A Ruptured Cometary Globule
Explanation:
Can a gas cloud eat a galaxy?
It's not even close.
The odd looking "creature" in the center of the
above photo is a gas cloud known as a
cometary globule.
This globule, however, has ruptured.
Cometary
globules
are typically characterized by
dusty heads and
elongated
tails.
These features cause cometary
globules
to have visual similarities to comets,
but in reality they are very much different.
Globules
are frequently the birthplaces of stars,
and many show very young stars in their heads.
The reason for the rupture in the head of this
object is not completely known.
The
galaxy
to the left of center is huge, very far in the distance, and only placed near
CG4 by chance superposition.
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.
