Astronomy Picture of the Day ·

Barnard 68: Dark Molecular Cloud

The Astronomy Picture of the Day for January 29, 2023 is “Barnard 68: Dark Molecular Cloud,” an image. It is credited to Image Credit: FORS Team , 8.2-meter VLT Antu , ESO. The original explanation runs about 189 words.

A dark comma-shaped cloud appears in the middle of a dense field of stars. No stars are visible through the center of the cloud. Please see the explanation for more detailed information.
Credit: Image Credit: FORS Team , 8.2-meter VLT Antu , ESO Shown from science.nasa.gov. Not hosted by OpenOrbit.

From the explanation

“Where did all the stars go? What used to be considered a hole in the sky is now known to astronomers as a dark molecular cloud.”

— APOD editors, January 29, 2023

Read the full explanation on science.nasa.gov

At a glance

Date
January 29, 2023
Type
Image
Credit
Credit: Image Credit: FORS Team , 8.2-meter VLT Antu , ESO
Copyright
No copyright notice on the entry. Check the credited institution’s own usage rules before reusing it.
Explanation length
About 189 words

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Source

Copy taken Oct 28, 2026, 2:39 AM EDT. The image and explanation belong to their creators. OpenOrbit is not affiliated with or endorsed by NASA.