                        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.

                                2024 June 25
      A busy starfield is shown which an elongated brown nebula running
    diagonally from the lower left to the upper right. A bright blue star
   and a star cluster appear above the nebula. Please see the explanation
                       for more detailed information.

                           The Dark Doodad Nebula
             Image Credit & Copyright: Martin Pugh & Rocco Sung

   Explanation: What is that strange brown ribbon on the sky? When
   observing the star cluster NGC 4372, observers frequently take note of
   an unusual dark streak nearby running about three degrees in length.
   The streak, actually a long molecular cloud, has become known as the
   Dark Doodad Nebula. (Doodad is slang for a thingy or a
   whatchamacallit.) Pictured here, the Dark Doodad Nebula sweeps across
   the center of a rich and colorful starfield. Its dark color comes from
   a high concentration of interstellar dust that preferentially scatters
   visible light. The globular star cluster NGC 4372 is visible as the
   fuzzy white spot on the far left, while the bright blue star gamma
   Muscae is seen to the cluster's upper right. The Dark Doodad Nebula can
   be found with strong binoculars toward the southern constellation of
   the Fly (Musca).

                        Tomorrow's picture: sky show
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
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