Bizzare hole in space: How did it get there? (The Keyhole to heaven?)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/Cool-Astronomy/2010/0511/Bizzare-hole-in-space-How-did-it-get-there ^ | May 11th, 2010

[TaraP]

The mysterious hole in space seems to have been blasted into the side of a nebula by jets of gas from young stars.

There is a black patch of space in NGC 1999, and for years astronomers have thought it was just a dense cloud of gas and dust, blocking light from passing through. But the Herschel infrared space telescope – which has the ability to peer into these dense clouds — has made an unexpected discovery. This black patch is actually a hole that has been blown in the side of the nebula by the jets and winds of gas from the young stellar objects in this region of space. “No-one has ever seen a hole like this,” said Tom Megeath, of the University of Toledo in the USA. “It’s as surprising as knowing you have worms tunneling under your lawn, but finding one morning that they have created a huge, yawning pit.” Any previous descriptions of NCG 1999 said that the ominous dark cloud in the center was actually a condensation of cold molecular gas and dust so thick and dense that it blocks light. And astronomers had no reason to believe otherwise, until Herschel's powerful infrared eyes took a look from space.

[I see my hands]

I also figured you used the word "this" as an anagram, lol. But then I figured I was nuts.

[dragnet2]

I shot this image of the Veil Nebula by my backyard observatory.

Veil Nebula below is an old supernova remnant in the constellation Cygnus. It is the remains of cataclysmic explosion of star that exploded between 5,000 and 8,000 years ago. This nebula is about 1,860 light-years distance.

Eastern Veil Nebula NGC 6992 - Supernova remnant

I obtained this shot on 10/22/2009- with a LX200 10" - Canon 40D 16x150 second exposures at ISO-800- CLS filter w6.3 Focal reducer.

[woofie]

I see one of my socks in there

[I see my hands]

Sol, the brightest star in our solar system:

[Ken H]

Wow! Very impressive!

[Grizzled Bear]

Oh...I just borrowed some “stuff.” I promise to give it back when I’m done.

[PeaceBeWithYou]

;)

[Islander7]

Relax! It's just a smoke ring.

[TigersEye]

That blowed up real good.

[Captain Beyond]

bflr

[valkyry1]

Why is it bizarre? Because it does not fit their models? Who said wherever the universe had to fit mans models?

[valkyry1]

fantastic photo man!

[Star Traveler]

Ummmm..., anyone who has "kept up" on things knows that's the Millennium Falcon ... LOL ...

[Star Traveler]

I'm not sure, but it kinda looks like a partially-cloaked Klingon ship a Bird-of-Prey ... to me ... :-)

[marsh2]

I we see an eyeball looking back through the hole, I’d be concerned.

[Right Wing Assault]

Who said wherever the universe had to fit mans models?

No one that I know of. But when we find things that are 'unexpected' we tend to think they are weird, unusual, bizarre. Then we try to explain them and modify our model. That's a natural thing for some people to do.

[Zeppo]

Any previous descriptions of NCG 1999 said that the ominous dark cloud in the center was actually a condensation of cold molecular gas and dust so thick and dense that it blocks light. And astronomers had no reason to believe otherwise...

So, had there previously been any actual evidence that "the ominous dark cloud in the center was actually a condensation of cold molecular gas and dust so thick and dense that it blocks light" which somehow fits in with this new theory, or is it typical for scientists to make up explanations such as that one, based on no actual evidence, rather than admitting that the reason is unknown?

[Agamemnon]

From what is purported to be the oldest book of the Bible we read:

"He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing."

Job 26:7

FReegards!

[KenD]

Just a guess on my part, but if it was only a hole in a nebula, you’d be able to see stars through it. Again, assuming that they couldn’t see stars through it, they decided it was somehow blocking the passage of light.

[houeto]

Images ping.