dark nebula
Cosmic dust shadow
A dark nebula is a dense cloud of interstellar dust and gas that blocks light from stars or bright nebulae behind it, appearing as a dark patch against the brighter background of space.
Unlike emission or reflection nebulae, dark nebulae produce no visible light of their own.
The Horsehead Nebula in Orion is a famous example.
- dustFine settled particles
- cosmic dustMicroscopic particles pervading space
- gasFormless, expanding substance
- silhouetteFilled-in outline shape
- protostarPre-fusion celestial body
interstellar · absorption · formless · murky · lightless · dense · shroud · cold · opaque · void · infrared · obscuring · light years · deep space · starless · veiled · star cluster · shadow