This is a clear sign that this globule must be relatively nearby. Moreover, and most importantly, they are nurseries of stars and planets. It still remains a mystery how a dark cloud like Barnard 68 at some moment begins to contract and subsequently transforms itself into hydrogen-burning stars. However, deep images of these clouds, such as this one obtained bThis small cloud seems to be in its very earliest phase of collapse. The field measures 6.8x6.8 arcmin2.
North is up and East is to the left.
Back to index. All Rights Reserved.