Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Stars and Dust Across Corona Australis

NASA ^ | September 12, 2013 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: Cosmic dust clouds sprawl across a rich field of stars in this sweeping telescopic vista near the northern boundary of Corona Australis, the Southern Crown. Less than 500 light-years away the dust clouds effectively block light from more distant background stars in the Milky Way. The entire frame spans about 2 degrees or over 15 light-years at the clouds' estimated distance. Near center is a group of lovely reflection nebulae cataloged as NGC 6726, 6727, 6729, and IC 4812. A characteristic blue color is produced as light from hot stars is reflected by the cosmic dust. The dust also obscures from view stars in the region still in the process of formation. Smaller yellowish nebula NGC 6729 surrounds young variable star R Coronae Australis. Below it are arcs and loops identified as Herbig Haro objects associated with energetic newborn stars. Magnificent globular star cluster NGC 6723 is at the right. Though NGC 6723 appears to be part of the group, its ancient stars actually lie nearly 30,000 light-years away, far beyond the young stars of the Corona Australis dust clouds.

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit & Copyright: Ignacio Diaz Bobillo]

[SunkenCiv]

The Big One

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[Kip Russell]

I saw the Southern Cross for the first time a few weeks ago when I was in South Africa.

[left that other site]

That reminds me of a song.....

[BenLurkin]

You might like this pic fo auroras over Finland: http://i.space.com/images/i/000/032/470/i02/aurora-thomas-kast.jpg?1378496396

[dufus]

When I see pics like this I am reminded of Shakespeare’s line.
There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

[Conan the Librarian]

Nice pair of Caldwell objects. I caught them from a dark-ish sky site last year. I have been working on the Caldwell list for a few years and revisited this area after about 20 years of not bothering (it’s low even down south here). Still a spectacular sight.