The Milky Way Galactic Core is often observed or imaged because of the picturesque scenes it creates, or the rich hydrogen-alpha regions that are home to many catalogued nebulas, such as the Eagle Nebula, Swan Nebula, Cat’s Paw Nebula, Lagoon Nebula, Trifid Nebula, and many many more. In addition, the regions that are seen with the naked eyes as a clouded arc that stretches across the night sky are depicted in images as glowing and bright regions with dark matter interspersed throughout the arc. These dark areas are referred to as dark nebulas.
This blog highlights the beauty of dark nebulas. The featured image shows the cosmic bridge that connects the heart of the Milky Way Galactic Core with the Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex. The immediate region at the end of the bridge on the side of the Core has been catalogued as the Dark Horse Nebula. It is composed of dense interstellar gas and dust that obscures visible light from the star field behind it.
Why a dark horse? Well; if the image was rotated clockwise (about 90 degrees), with a slightly wider field of view, it sort of resembles a dark horse prancing on the bridge to the Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex. Let me know if you see it in the image below from 2021.
The Dark Horse Nebula
The nebula is massive. It lies roughly 500 light years away in the constellation of Ophiuchus near the constellations Scorpius and Sagittarius, and is visible to the unaided eyes under dark skies. It is yet another reason why you should make it a priority to go outside, look up and experience an amazing Universe.
Featured image gear and EXIF: Canon R6 + Canon 50mm lens; 177 images at f/1.8, exp. 8 seconds, ISO 12800. Stacked in AstroPixel Processor and post-processed in PixInsight and Photoshop.
