Impression Photo Dark Clouds of the Carina Nebula

What dark forms lurk in the mists of the Carina Nebula ? These ominous figures are actually molecular clouds, knots of molecular gas and dust thick they have become opaque. Comparison, however, these clouds are typically much less dense than earth's atmosphere. Pictured above is part of the most detailed image of the Carina Nebula ever taken where dark molecular clouds are particularly prominent. The entire Carina Nebula spans more than 300 light years and lis about 7 500 light-years away in the constellation of Carina. NGC 3372, known as the Great Nebula en Carina, is home to massive stars and changing nebula. Eta Carinae, the most energetic star in the nebula, qui one of the brightest stars in the sky in the 1830 s, but non sans drame. Wide-field annotated and zoomable versions of the larger image composite are available.