NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day Collection

The Colorful Clouds of Rho Ophiuchi

This stunning mosiac [ http://www.robgendl…] of the sky around bright stars Antares (Alpha Scorpii [ http://www.hawastso…]) and Rho Ophiuchi [ http://astro.ninepl…] reveals spectacular colors in a cosmic starscape. Near the top, Rho Ophiuchi and nearby stars are immersed in blue reflection nebulae - dust clouds that shine primarily by reflected starlight [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…]. Cool supergiant star Antares [ http://www.astro.ui…] (lower left) is itself shedding the material that reflects the evolved star's yellowish hue. Characteristic of star forming regions, the telltale red emission from hydrogen gas [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…] also permeates the view along with dark, obscuring dust clouds seen [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…] in silhouette against the background stars and brighter nebulosities. About 500 light-years away, the Rho Ophiuchi star clouds [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…], are well in front of the nearby globular [ http://www.seds.org…] star cluster M4 [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…], visible just below and right of center. The wide view spans about 6 degrees on the sky.

Jim Misti [ http://www.mistisof…] and Steve Mazlin [ http://www.fourthdi…introduction.html ], (acquisition), Robert Gendler [ http://www.robgendl…] (processing)

Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)

ANTARES

clouds

http://antwrp.gsfc.…

SPD-APOD-ap060714