Media Information

 
 
 
Collection:
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day Collection
Title:
The E Nebula in Aquila
Explanation:
Several unusual strands of darkness [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…] are prominent toward the constellation of Aquila [ http://chandra.harv…]. This particular dark nebula [ http://zebu.uoregon…] is known as the E Nebula, for its evocative shape, or B142 and B143, for its position(s) on a list of such nebula compiled by Barnard [ http://astro.uchica…]. The E Nebula [ http://www.eastbaya…] spans roughly the angle of a full Moon [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…] and lies about 2000 light years [ http://starchild.gs…] distant. The nebula [ http://www.abmedia.…] can be seen with binoculars and is particularly visible during the summer months in Earth's northern hemisphere. Other names for dark nebula [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…] include absorption nebula [ http://www.glyphweb…], as they efficiently absorb visible light emitted behind them, and molecular clouds [ http://etacha.as.ar…], as they frequently attain temperatures low enough so that several different types of stable molecules [ http://www.chem.ox.…] can exist. The low temperatures of these interstellar clouds [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…] facilitate the formation of dense knots [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…] of gas that may then collapse into bright stars.
Credit and Copyright:
Chris Cook [ http://www.abmedia.…]
facet_where:
Arizona
facet_where:
Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)
facet_where:
Washington, D.C.
facet_what:
Earth
facet_what:
Moon
facet_what:
Visible Light
facet_what:
Aquila
facet_what:
nebula
original url:
UID:
SPD-APOD-ap030820

The E Nebula in Aquila