This comet-shaped molecular cloud, consisting of regions of dense gas and dust, lies in the constellation Muscat, the Fly. It is accompanied by the globular cluster NGC 4372. The Dark Doodat Nebula is one of the closest star-forming regions to the solar system, only 700 light years away from us. The nebula has one of those names that has stuck, but is not particularly meaningful. Doodad refers to a small object whose name you can’t remember or don’t know.
Dark Doodat Nebula (Sandquist 149)