Jul 22, 2012
The unusual blobs found in the Carina nebula, some of which are seen floating on the upper right, might best be described as evaporating. Energetic light and winds from nearby stars are breaking apart the dark dust grains that make the iconic forms opaque. Ironically the blobs, otherwise known as dark molecular clouds, frequently create in their midst the very stars that later destroy them. The Carina nebula itself spans about 30 light years, lies about 7,500 light years away, and can be seen with a small telescope toward the constellation of Keel.