                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

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

                                2023 June 22

                   Stars and Dust across Corona Australis
             Image Credit & Copyright: Alessandro Cipolat Bares

   Explanation: Cosmic dust clouds cross a rich field of stars in this
   telescopic vista near the northern boundary of Corona Australis, the
   Southern Crown. Part of a sprawling molecular cloud complex this star
   forming region is a mere 500 light-years away. That's about one third
   the distance of the more famous stellar nursery known as the Orion
   Nebula. The 2 degree wide frame would span 15 light-years at the
   clouds' estimated distance. Mixed with bright nebulosities the dust
   clouds effectively block light from more distant background stars in
   the Milky Way and obscure from view embedded stars still in the process
   of formation. Large dark nebula Bernes 157 is on the left. To its right
   are a group of pretty reflection nebulae cataloged as NGC 6726, 6727,
   6729, and IC 4812. Their characteristic blue color is produced as light
   from hot stars is reflected by the cosmic dust. The more compact NGC
   6729 surrounds young variable star R Coronae Australis. Just below it,
   filamentary arcs and loops are identified as Herbig Haro objects
   associated with energetic newborn stars. In fact, at the heart of this
   area lies the Coronet Cluster, one of the nearest and most active star
   forming regions.

                    Tomorrow's picture: the condor galaxy
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
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