The Milky Way Project Talk

Whats that?

  • Michkov by Michkov

    Whats that long thin object on the lower left corner?

    Posted

  • ffcordi by ffcordi

    don't know but really interesting

    Posted

  • gwolfchase by gwolfchase scientist

    You're looking at a long, dark cloud with embedded protostars (those red objects). These protostars (stars that are still forming) appear red because you're seeing the warm dust "cocoons" in which the stars are forming. Very often, the dark clouds are long and filamentary; however, I haven't seen one quite that "linear" before with so many embedded protostars! The dark clouds are regions where the gas and dust in the Milky Way are so cold and dense that they obscure other things in the background.
    Great find!

    Posted