Posted on Nov 22, 2020
APOD: 2020 November 22 - Dark Molecular Cloud Barnard 68
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Good evening, Rallypoint. Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) is titled "Dark Molecular Cloud Barnard 68." Dark clouds are the coolest objects in the known Universe with temperatures around -263 °C, just ten degrees above the absolute zero. They are the nurseries of stars and planets. They might also be places where admins like M'Lord Broom banish other Rallypoint members for telling the truth. To understand them is to understand the processes that took place when the Solar System was formed about 4,500 million years ago. Thanks to the recent advent of improved infrared technology, it is now possible to study molecular clouds in a more direct way. By means of careful measurements of the change of colour of background stars seen through a molecular cloud, astronomers can chart the distribution of matter inside these clouds. These unique data provide astronomers with important clues on how a dark cloud transforms itself into stars.
APOD: 2020 November 22 - Dark Molecular Cloud Barnard 68
Posted from apod.nasa.gov
NASA
Space
Science
Photography
Astronomy
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 6
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Crosby, Stills & Nash (Live) - Dark Star
From Daylight Again DVD Live Concert
Thank you my friend Maj William W. 'Bill' Price for posting the NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) for Sunday, November 22, 2020 entitled "Dark Molecular Cloud Barnard 68." I concur with your assessment of admins like Broom who banish other RallyPoint members for simply telling the truth as well as sharing their intelligent opinions.
Image: Dark Molecular Cloud Barnard 68 - Image Credit - FORS Team, 8.2-meter VLT Antu, ESO
APOD Background:
'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. Here, a high concentration of dust and molecular gas absorb practically all the visible light emitted from background stars. The eerily dark surroundings help make the interiors of molecular clouds some of the coldest and most isolated places in the universe. One of the most notable of these dark absorption nebulae is a cloud toward the constellation Ophiuchus known as Barnard 68, pictured here. That no stars are visible in the center indicates that Barnard 68 is relatively nearby, with measurements placing it about 500 light-years away and half a light-year across. It is not known exactly how molecular clouds like Barnard 68 form, but it is known that these clouds are themselves likely places for new stars to form. In fact, Barnard 68 itself has been found likely to collapse and form a new star system. It is possible to look right through the cloud in infrared light."
Crosby, Stills & Nash (Live) - Dark Star
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ahBPQCE2CE
FYI Maj Robert Thornton Lt Col Charlie Brown COL Mikel J. Burroughs Sgt (Join to see) PO1 William "Chip" Nagel Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen SGT Denny Espinosa Sgt Vance Bonds MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. TSgt David L. SPC Nancy GreenePO2 (Join to see) SSG Michael Noll SPC Margaret Higgins Maj Marty Hogan SMSgt David A Asbury SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
Image: Dark Molecular Cloud Barnard 68 - Image Credit - FORS Team, 8.2-meter VLT Antu, ESO
APOD Background:
'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. Here, a high concentration of dust and molecular gas absorb practically all the visible light emitted from background stars. The eerily dark surroundings help make the interiors of molecular clouds some of the coldest and most isolated places in the universe. One of the most notable of these dark absorption nebulae is a cloud toward the constellation Ophiuchus known as Barnard 68, pictured here. That no stars are visible in the center indicates that Barnard 68 is relatively nearby, with measurements placing it about 500 light-years away and half a light-year across. It is not known exactly how molecular clouds like Barnard 68 form, but it is known that these clouds are themselves likely places for new stars to form. In fact, Barnard 68 itself has been found likely to collapse and form a new star system. It is possible to look right through the cloud in infrared light."
Crosby, Stills & Nash (Live) - Dark Star
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ahBPQCE2CE
FYI Maj Robert Thornton Lt Col Charlie Brown COL Mikel J. Burroughs Sgt (Join to see) PO1 William "Chip" Nagel Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen SGT Denny Espinosa Sgt Vance Bonds MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. TSgt David L. SPC Nancy GreenePO2 (Join to see) SSG Michael Noll SPC Margaret Higgins Maj Marty Hogan SMSgt David A Asbury SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
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LTC Stephen F.
Grateful Dead - Dark Star (Winterland 10/18/74)
"Although played more than 50 times in 1972-1973 combined, Dark Star became a rarity in 1974, played only six times before being shelved until 12/31/78. At t...
Grateful Dead - Dark Star (Winterland 10/18/74)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlWqitKLnfs
FYI SSG Franklin BriantSgt John H. CW5 Jack Cardwell SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth SGT (Join to see)SSG Jeffrey LeakeSPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D SPC Matthew Lamb CPT Gurinder (Gene) Rana SSG Samuel Kermon LTC Wayne Brandon Maj Kim Patterson Sgt (Join to see) SSG Samuel KermonMSgt Paul Connors SPC Margaret Higgins SPC Nancy Greene
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlWqitKLnfs
FYI SSG Franklin BriantSgt John H. CW5 Jack Cardwell SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth SGT (Join to see)SSG Jeffrey LeakeSPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D SPC Matthew Lamb CPT Gurinder (Gene) Rana SSG Samuel Kermon LTC Wayne Brandon Maj Kim Patterson Sgt (Join to see) SSG Samuel KermonMSgt Paul Connors SPC Margaret Higgins SPC Nancy Greene
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SPC Nancy Greene
Excellent Selection LTC Stephen F.! Crosby, Stills & Nash definitely had an impact on music and culture ‘back in the day’!
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SPC Nancy Greene
Another Great selection Sir! I actually saw the Dead in concert in the early 70’s at Duke University!LTC Stephen F.
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CPT Gurinder (Gene) Rana
Knowledge of space is exceptional between your good self and Maj Bill Price, so, perhaps, the two of you gentlemen can give RallyPoint a virtual Space Trip once a week?
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HaHaHaHa!
Beautiful Photo Sir!
Really love the explanation of the dark clouds! Still laughing Sir!
Thank You for sharing!
This made my Evening!
Beautiful Photo Sir!
Really love the explanation of the dark clouds! Still laughing Sir!
Thank You for sharing!
This made my Evening!
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Maj William W. 'Bill' Price
You are welcome SPC Nancy Greene. But since "...the prowde spirite...cannot endure to be mocked" (Thomas Moore), I guess I should start saying good-bye after openly daring to do so.
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SPC Nancy Greene
I think you’re safe Sir...seems they are busy with the ‘bot’ hacking...Maj William W. 'Bill' Price
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Wow cool APOD. -263 and wonder how they measure that- would anything even register that cold?
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Maj William W. 'Bill' Price
Maj Marty Hogan I suspect electromagnetic radiation is one way. Absolute zero (-273) is the lowest limit of the thermodynamic temperature scale, a state at which the enthalpy and entropy of a cooled ideal gas reaches their minimum value. So if they can say -263, there must be something detectable there.
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