APOD: 2024 June 22 - Lynds Dark Nebula 1251 (nasa.gov)This image shows LDN 1251, also known as the Rotten Fish Nebula, along with the intricate web of surrounding dust and gas within the Cepheus Flare molecular cloud complex. Located about 650 light-years from Earth, this dark nebula is a stellar nursery of mystery and beauty.
The Rotten Fish Nebula takes its name from its distinctive shape, resembling a fish swimming through the cosmic sea. This dense cloud of interstellar dust and gas blocks the light from the background stars, creating a dark silhouette against the brighter background of space. The surrounding area is filled with wisps of glowing dust, sculpted by the forces of stellar winds and radiation from nearby young stars.
The interplay of light and shadow reveals the dynamic processes at work within the nebula. The dark, sinuous filaments of LDN 1251 contrast with the soft glow of the diffuse dust, revealing the complex structure of this region. These dense regions are rich in the raw materials needed for star formation, where gravity pulls gas and dust together to ignite the birth of new stars.
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