The constellations of Scorpius and Ophiuchus offer unique color magic in the night sky. The colors come from a mixture of gas and dust. Dust, which is illuminated by starlight and produces blue reflection nebulae. Gaseous clouds that produce reddish
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Magical Colors in Scorpius and Ophiuchus
Coalsack Loop and Southern Cross
For me, they are the most impressive pair in the southern night sky, the Southern Cross and the black Coalsack nebula, which is the darkest object in the Milky Way to the naked eye. But this is only an optical
Read moreThe Dark Tower – GN 16.43.7
About 5000 light years away from Earth lies this dusty cosmic cloud in the constellation of Scorpius. This bizarre, dark structure of gas and dust is called the Dark Tower. It is known as a cometary globule because of its
Read moreBatman, The Cosmic Bat – LDN43
When it gets dark under the southern sky, it appears among the stars in the night sky, the cosmic bat with its pointed ears and glowing teeth. Seen soberly, it is only a veil of dust illuminated by young stars.
Read moreAnteater – NG6726
A seemingly bizarre complex of dust and gas appears with two bright blue reflection nebulae that complement the body of an anteater like bulging eyes. Weak legs spread out on either side. It also appears to be keeping an eye
Read moreCoalsack and Southern Cross
The Coalsack is probably the best-known nebula in our Milky Way that can be seen with the naked eye in the southern starry sky. It neighbors directly on the constellation “Southern Cross”, which stands out from the millions of other
Read moreMolecular Clouds in Chamaeleon
The constellation Chameleon lies near the southern celestial pole and can only be recognised far to the south. This constellation contains large molecular clouds of dust and gas. My photo taken in Namibia shows such clouds with bizarre structures. A
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