船底座星云的分子云

2019 October 2

Molecular Clouds in the Carina Nebula
Image Credit: NASA, ESA, Hubble

Explanation: They are not alive — but they are dying. The unusual forms found in the Carina nebula, a few of which are featured here, might best be described as evaporating. Energetic light and winds from nearby stars are breaking apart the dark dust grains that make the iconic forms opaque. Ironically the figures, otherwise known as dark molecular clouds or bright rimmed globules, frequently create in their midst the very stars that later destroy them. The floating space structures pictured here by the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope span a few light months. The Great Nebula in Carina itself spans about 30 light years, lies about 7,500 light years away, and can be seen with a small telescope toward the constellation of Keel(Carina).

船底座星云的分子云
影像提供: NASA, ESA, Hubble

说明: 他们不是诞生成形的恒星，却已经迈上死亡之途。位在船底座星云内的这类不寻常天体，有些成为这幅影像的主题，而它们最贴切的形容是正在蒸发之中。因为邻近恒星发出的高能星光和恒星风，不停破坏它们内部黝黑的尘埃微粒，让它们成为不透光的特征天体。很讽刺的，是这些称为暗分子云或亮缘云球的天体，经常会产生恒星，而这些恒星后来反倒过来摧毁它们。在这幅哈伯太空望远镜影像里，这些漂浮在太空中的天体，大小约为数个光月。而距离我们约7,500光年远的船底座大星云，本身的大小约有30光年，用小望远镜就能在船底座方向看见它。