天蝎座的黑塔星云

2021年7月15日

The Dark Tower in Scorpius
Image Credit & Copyright: Data – Martin Pugh Processing – Rocco Sung

Explanation: In silhouette against a crowded star field along the tail of the arachnalogical constellation Scorpius, this dusty cosmic cloud evokes for some the image of an ominous dark tower. In fact, clumps of dust and molecular gas collapsing to form stars may well lurk within the dark nebula, a structure that spans almost 40 light-years across this gorgeous telescopic portrait. Known as a cometary globule, the swept-back cloud, is shaped by intense ultraviolet radiation from the OB association of very hot stars in NGC 6231, off the upper edge of the scene. That energetic ultraviolet light also powers the globule’s bordering reddish glow of hydrogen gas. Hot stars embedded in the dust can be seen as bluish reflection nebulae. This dark tower, NGC 6231, and associated nebulae are about 5,000 light-years away.

Tomorrow’s picture: love and war by moonlight

天蝎座的黑塔星云
影像提供与版权: 数据 – Martin Pugh 影像处理 – Rocco Sung

说明: 在天蝎座尾部密布的恒星之衬托下，这团以剪影之姿现身的黝黑尘埃宇宙云，让我们联想到不祥的黑塔。只不过，在这幅壮丽的望远镜影像里，这座黑塔延伸了将近40光年，而且在这团暗星云之内，可能藏着正在塌缩形成恒星的尘埃和云气团块。这团分类为彗星状云球的箭型云气，是由位在影像上缘之外的星团NGC 6231内之极端炙热的OB星协，所发出的强烈紫外辐射雕塑而成。这些强烈的紫外辐射，同时也激发云球边缘的氢气发出泛红辉光。深埋在NGC 6231内的炽热恒星，可从周围的小泛蓝反射星云辨认出来。这座黑塔、NGC 6231与相关的星云，离我们约5,000光年远。

明日的图片: love and war by moonlight