A stunning image of Barnard 163, a dark nebula within the larger emission nebula IC 1396 in the constellation Cepheus. This dark cloud of gas and dust, resembling a cosmic duck, is so dense that it blocks visible light, while the surrounding IC 1396 glows red. Barnard 163 is a stellar nursery, where the cold conditions allow for the formation of new stars. The image also highlights the beauty of the star-filled night sky and the fact that today is an equinox—a perfect celestial alignment.

Astronomy Picture from 21/03/2007

Molecular Cloud Barnard 163

Source: https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap070321.html


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