Astronomy Picture of the Day
Discover the cosmos!
Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is
featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
2014 May 13
CG4: A Ruptured Cometary Globule
Image Credit & Copyright:
Jason Jennings
(cosmicphotos)
Explanation:
Can a gas cloud grab a galaxy?
It's not even close.
The "claw" of this odd looking "creature" in 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 the globule
is huge, very far in the distance, and only placed near
CG4 by chance superposition.
Best Space Images:
Free APOD Lecture in Paris on June 17
Tomorrow's picture: Earth, live
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MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell (
UMCP)
NASA Official: Phillip Newman
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