            APOD: 2017 October 8 - Dark Molecular Cloud Barnard 68

                         Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! [1] Each day a different image or photograph of our
 fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a
                           professional astronomer.

                                2017 October 8
                                      [2]
                       Dark Molecular Cloud Barnard 68
        Image Credit: FORS Team [3] , 8.2-meter VLT Antu [4] , ESO [5]

Explanation: Where did all the stars go? What used to be considered a hole in
the sky is now known to astronomers as a dark molecular cloud [6] . Here, a
high concentration of dust [7]  and molecular gas [8] absorb practically all
the visible light emitted from background stars. The eerily dark surroundings
help make the interiors of molecular clouds [9]  some of the coldest and most
isolated place [10] s in the universe. One of the most notable of these dark
absorption nebulae [11] is a cloud toward the constellation Ophiuchus [12]
known as Barnard 68 [13] , pictured here [14] . That no stars are visible in
the center indicates that Barnard [15] 68 is relatively nearby, with
measurements placing it about 500 light-years away and half a light-year [16]
across. It is not known [17]  exactly how molecular clouds [18]  like Barnard
68 [19]  form, but it is known that these clouds are themselves likely places
[20] for new stars to form [21] . In fact, Barnard 68 [22]  itself has been
found [23]  likely to collapse and form a new star system. It is possible to
look right through [24]  the cloud in infrared [25]  light.

                  Tomorrow's picture: ceresian mountain [26]

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    Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff [38] (MTU [39] ) & Jerry Bonnell [40]
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Site notes:
  [1] archivepix.html
  [2] image/1710/barnard68v2_vlt_4000.jpg
  [3] http://www.eso.org/sci/facilities/paranal/instruments/fors.html
  [4] http://www.eso.org/projects/vlt/
  [5] http://www.eso.org/
  [6] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molecular_cloud
  [7] ap030706.html
  [8] ap970430.html
  [9] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbdwTwB8jtc
  [10]
http://lh5.ggpht.com/__zoKJ77EvEc/TUunWxcWVlI/AAAAAAAAKyc/JW7UNzSdeS4/
house-ellidaey5%5B2%5D.jpg
  [11] dark_nebulae.html
  [12] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophiuchus
  [13] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnard_68
  [14] http://www.eso.org/gallery/v/ESOPIA/Stars/phot-02a-01.tif.html
  [15] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Emerson_Barnard
  [16]
http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/questions/question19.html
  [17]
http://www.findadogminder.com.au/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/
pugheadtilt.jpg
  [18] http://archive.ncsa.uiuc.edu/Cyberia/Bima/GMC.html
  [19] https://www.eso.org/public/videos/eso9934a/
  [20] ap070218.html
  [21] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_formation
  [22] http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2009ApJ...695.1308B
  [23]
http://www.universetoday.com/2009/06/09/
astronomers-predict-birth-of-a-new-star/
  [24] http://www.eso.org/public/news/eso9934/
  [25]
http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/cosmic_classroom/ir_tutorial/discovery.html
  [26] ap171009.html
  [27] ap171007.html
  [28] archivepix.html
  [29] lib/apsubmit2015.html
  [30] lib/aptree.html
  [31] https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  [32] calendar/allyears.html
  [33] /apod.rss
  [34] lib/edlinks.html
  [35] lib/about_apod.html
  [36] http://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=171008
  [37] ap171009.html
  [38] http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  [39] http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  [40] https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  [41] http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  [42] lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  [43] https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  [44] https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  [45] https://www.nasa.gov/
  [46] https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  [47] http://www.mtu.edu/
