Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                2024 June 25
    [2]A busy starfield is shown which an elongated brown nebula running
    diagonally from the lower left to the upper right. A bright blue star
   and a star cluster appear above the nebula. Please see the explanation
                       for more detailed information.

                           The Dark Doodad Nebula
          Image Credit & Copyright: [3]Martin Pugh & [4]Rocco Sung

   Explanation: What is that strange brown ribbon on the sky? When
   observing the star cluster [5]NGC 4372, observers frequently take note
   of an unusual dark streak nearby running about three [6]degrees in
   length. The streak, actually a long [7]molecular cloud, has become
   known as the Dark Doodad Nebula. (Doodad is slang for a [8]thingy or a
   [9]whatchamacallit.) Pictured here, the [10]Dark Doodad Nebula sweeps
   across the center of a rich and colorful starfield. Its dark color
   comes from a high concentration of [11]interstellar dust that
   preferentially scatters [12]visible light. The [13]globular star
   cluster NGC 4372 is visible as the [14]fuzzy white spot on the far
   left, while the bright blue star [15]gamma Muscae is seen to the
   cluster's upper right. The [16]Dark Doodad Nebula can be found with
   strong [17]binoculars toward the southern [18]constellation of the
   [19]Fly ([20]Musca).

                        Tomorrow's picture: sky show
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    Authors & editors: [32]Robert Nemiroff ([33]MTU) & [34]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([35]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [36]Specific rights apply.
            [37]NASA Web Privacy, [38]Accessibility, [39]Notices;
                A service of: [40]ASD at [41]NASA / [42]GSFC,
                         [43]NASA Science Activation
                           & [44]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2406/Doodad_PughSung_9193.jpg
   3. https://www.martinpughastrophotography.space/about
   4. https://www.instagram.com/sungcs/
   5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_4372
   6. https://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/degrees.html
   7. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap230129.html
   8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thingy
   9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whatchamacallit
  10. https://skyandtelescope.org/online-gallery/dark-doodad-nebula/
  11. https://astronomy.swin.edu.au/cosmos/d/Dust+Grain
  12. https://science.nasa.gov/ems/09_visiblelight/
  13. https://science.nasa.gov/resource/globular-clusters-stellar-pockets/
  14. https://i1.pickpik.com/photos/957/342/365/cat-kitten-puppy-fluffy-preview.jpg
  15. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamma_Muscae
  16. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Doodad_Nebula
  17. https://www.explainthatstuff.com/binoculars.html
  18. https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/constellations/
  19. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fly#/media/File:Fossil_insect_Diptera,_Brachycera_in_Baltic_amber._Age_50_Mill._years_(the_Lower_Eocene).jpg
  20. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musca
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240624.html
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  25. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  27. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  30. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=240625
  31. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240626.html
  32. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  33. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  34. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  35. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  36. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  37. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  38. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  39. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  40. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  41. https://www.nasa.gov/
  42. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  43. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  44. http://www.mtu.edu/