Astronomy Picture of the Day: Across Corona Australis
Across Corona Australis Cosmic dust clouds are draped across a rich field of stars in this broad telescopic panorama near the northern boundary of Corona Australis , the Southern Crown. Less than 500 light-years away the denser clouds effectively block light from more distant background stars in the Milky Way . The entire vista spans about 5 degrees or nearly 45 light-years at the clouds' estimated distance. Toward the right lies a group of bluish reflection nebulae cataloged as NGC 6726, 6727, 6729 and IC 4812 . The characteristic blue color is produced as light from hot stars is reflected by the cosmic dust. The dust also obscures from view stars in the re gion still in the process of formation. Smaller yellowish nebula NGC 6729 surrounds young variable star R Coronae Australis . Below it are arcs and loops identified as Herbig Haro (HH) objects associated with energetic new...