An Unexpected Scattering of Light
Sig10 020c

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/L. Pagani (Observatoire de Paris/CNRS)

Observation • September 23rd, 2010 • sig10-020c

sig10-020c

This series of images from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope shows a dark mass of gas and dust, called a core, where new stars and planets will likely spring up.

This image shows the core as seen at longer wavelengths of infrared light (8 microns); when viewed at this wavelength, the core appears dark.

This particular core lies deep within a larger dark cloud called L183. Spitzer's infrared vision allows it to peer into the dark cloud to see the even darker cores buried inside.

The observations were made with Spitzer's infrared array camera (IRAC).

About the Object

Name
Lynds 183L183
Type
Nebula > Appearance > Dark
Distance
325 Light Years

Color Mapping

Band Wavelength Telescope
Infrared 8.0 µm Spitzer IRAC

Astrometrics

Position (J2000)
RA =15h 54m 10.3s
Dec = -2° 53' 32.6"
Field of View
17.2 x 21.9 arcminutes
Orientation
North is 15.0° right of vertical