Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]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 May 21
   [2]The featured image shows a distant galaxy on the left next to a gas
   cloud on the right. An opening in the gas cloud is on the same side as
    the galaxy. Please see the explanation for more detailed information.

                       CG4: The Globule and the Galaxy
    Image Credit: [3]CTIO, NOIRLab, DOE, NSF, AURA; Processing: [4]T. A.
   Rector (U. Alaska Anchorage/NSF’s NOIRLab), D. de Martin & M. Zamani
                              (NSF’s NOIRLab)

   Explanation: Can a gas cloud eat a galaxy? It's not even close. The
   "claw" of this odd looking "creature" in the [5]featured photo is a gas
   cloud known as a [6]cometary globule. This globule, however, [7]has
   ruptured. Cometary [8]globules are typically characterized by [9]dusty
   heads and elongated [10]tails. These features cause cometary
   [11]globules to have visual similarities to [12]comets, but in reality
   they are very much different. [13]Globules are frequently the
   birthplaces of stars, and many show very young [14]stars in their
   heads. The reason for the rupture in the head of [15]this object is not
   yet known. The [16]galaxy to the left of the globule is huge, very far
   in the distance, and only placed near [17]CG4 by [18]chance
   superposition.

                      Tomorrow's picture: green sky arc
     __________________________________________________________________

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    Authors & editors: [30]Robert Nemiroff ([31]MTU) & [32]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([33]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [34]Specific rights apply.
            [35]NASA Web Privacy, [36]Accessibility, [37]Notices;
                A service of: [38]ASD at [39]NASA / [40]GSFC,
                         [41]NASA Science Activation
                           & [42]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2405/Cg4Galaxy_CtioRector_1476.jpg
   3. https://noirlab.edu/public/programs/ctio/
   4. http://aftar.uaa.alaska.edu/
   5. https://noirlab.edu/public/images/noirlab2412a/
   6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/cometary_globule
   7. https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1995A&A...293..493G/abstract
   8. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap221212.html
   9. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/glossary.html#dust
  10. https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1996ApJ...463L.105M/abstract
  11. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap120612.html
  12. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap170409.html
  13. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_nebula
  14. https://science.nasa.gov/universe/stars/
  15. https://noirlab.edu/public/news/noirlab2412/
  16. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galaxy
  17. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CG_4
  18. https://blogmais.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/imagem_ht_07-04-23.jpg
  19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240520.html
  20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  23. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  25. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  28. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=240521
  29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240522.html
  30. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  31. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  32. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  33. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  34. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  35. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  36. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  37. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  38. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  39. https://www.nasa.gov/
  40. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  41. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  42. http://www.mtu.edu/