CG4：破裂的彗星状云球

2021年7月26日

CG4: A Ruptured Cometary Globule
Image Credit & Copyright: Nicolas Rolland & Martin Pugh

Explanation: Can a gas cloud grab a galaxy? It’s not even close. The “claw” of this odd looking “creature” in the featured 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 yet known. The galaxy to the left of the globule is huge, very far in the distance, and only placed near CG4 by chance superposition.

Tomorrow’s picture: wisp of star death

CG4：破裂的彗星状云球
影像提供与版权: Nicolas Rolland & Martin Pugh

说明: 气体云能抓住星系吗？大小差太多，当然不行！在这幅主题影像里，这个「张牙舞爪」的怪异天体，是一种名为彗星状云球的云气团，不过这团云球已破裂。典型彗星状云球的结构，通常具有尘埃头和长尾，因此外在的特征让它们和彗星有点相似，但实质上它们差异颇大。云球常常会形成恒星，有些云球的头部甚至镶着很年轻的恒星。然而这个云球的头部为何会破裂，其成因目前不明。云球左侧的星系巨大且遥远，它只是在视线上，碰巧和CG4在同一方向而已。

明日的图片: wisp of star death