Serpens Nebula HBC 672, imaged at near-infrared wavelengths by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. The Serpens Nebula is a stellar nursery that is ne

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Serpens Nebula HBC 672, imaged at near-infrared wavelengths by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. The Serpens Nebula is a stellar nursery that is nearly 1,300 light-years away from Earth. HBC 672, is a Sun-like star surrounded by a debris ring of dust, rock, and ice. A young star's brilliant light is being blocked by this debris ring causing a distinctive shadow. The feature, visible at upper right, is nicknamed the Bat Shadow and spans approximately 200 times the length of our solar system. The presence of a shadow means that the disk is being viewed nearly edge-on. A similar-looking shadow phenomenon emanates from another young star at upper left. At lower right, what appears to be a void is likely a part of a foreground cloud. Light from the red, double star inside the void is partially blocked by this cloud.

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Size: 4398px × 3982px
Photo credit: © NASA/ESA/STScI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -, 672, astronomical, astronomy, astrophysical, astrophysics, bat, debris, disc, disk, forming, hbc, hubble, nebula, night, nursery, serpens, shadow, sky, space, star, stars, stellar, telescope