Molecular cloud facts for kids

Young stars surrounded by a giant molecular cloud in the Ophiuchus constellation
A molecular cloud is a kind of cloud in space. It has enough density and size so that molecules can form, usually molecules of hydrogen (H2). Molecular hydrogen is not easy to find. Instead astronomers use infrared telescopes and radio telescopes to look for CO (carbon monoxide). This lets them find the hydrogen molecules that are also there.
Images for kids
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Young stars in and around molecular cloud Cepheus B. Radiation from one bright, massive star is destroying the cloud (from top to bottom in this image) while simultaneously triggering the formation of new stars.
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Molecular cloud Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.