Dark nebula facts for kids
Dark nebulae are astronomical objects. They do not emit or reflect light. They are seen when they hide stars and galaxies behind them.
The astronomer Edward Emerson Barnard compiled a list of dark nebulae known as the Barnard Catalogue of Dark Markings in the Sky, or the Barnard Catalogue for short. The nebulae listed by Barnard have become known as Barnard objects.
These are the best-known dark nebulae:
- Coalsack nebula
- Cone nebula
- Dark Doodad nebula
- Dark Horse nebula
- Horsehead nebula (Barnard 33)
- Pipe nebula (also see Dark Horse nebula; includes Barnard 59, 77 and 78)
- Snake nebula (also see Dark Horse nebula
Images for kids
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Dark nebula LDN 1768 contains protostars.
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Dark nebula called LDN1774, taken by the Wide Field Imager, an instrument mounted on ESO’s 2.2-meter MPG/ESO telescope at La Silla.
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Dark nebula LDN 483 is located about 700 light-years away in the constellation of Serpens (The Serpent).
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Lupus 4 is a dense pocket of gas and dust where new stars are expected to form.
