Corona Australis Molecular Cloud
Explore the dark, mysterious clouds of Corona Australis, where newborn stars emerge from cosmic shadows.
Data kindly provided by my friend Aygen as part of the ShaRA Project #10 - Read the article here!
- Object type: Dark Molecular Cloud
- Designation: NGC 6726, NGC 6727, NGC 6729
- Hemisphere: Southern
- Constellation: Corona Australis
- Distance: 430 light years
Corona Australis: Stars Born in Darkness
In the southern skies, hidden among the faint stars of Corona Australis, lies a realm where starlight and shadow live in cosmic harmony. The blue glow of reflection nebulae NGC 6726, NGC 6727, and NGC 6729 pierces through the dark, dusty clouds, revealing the beauty of a stellar nursery. Here, newborn stars carve their presence into the surrounding gas, their light reflected and scattered by the dust, creating a haunting yet beautiful vista.
These nebulae are surrounded by dark, molecular clouds, which are dense enough to obscure the light from stars behind them, adding to the mysterious allure of this region. Technically, this region is rich with a variety of astronomical phenomena. The dark nebulae within Corona Australis are some of the densest clouds observable from Earth, with significant extinction that blocks visible light.
Studies using polarimetry have revealed that the Corona Australis molecular cloud has complex magnetic fields that influence star formation. The alignment of dust grains by magnetic fields has provided insights into the role of magnetism in the collapse of molecular clouds and the subsequent formation of stars.
The reflection nebulae (NGC 6726, NGC 6727, and NGC 6729) are illuminated by young, hot stars embedded within the clouds. NGC 6729, in particular, is associated with the variable star R Coronae Australis, whose brightness fluctuates due to the changing density of the material in its surrounding environment. This area is also home to Herbig-Haro objects (HH 100 and HH 101), which are jets of gas ejected by newly forming stars, colliding with nearby dust and gas at high speeds.
Located approximately 430 light-years away, Corona Australis is one of the nearest star-forming regions to our solar system. The molecular clouds span over 8 light-years across and are filled with the raw materials needed to create stars. Astronomers study this region to understand the processes that lead to star formation, particularly how gas and dust coalesce under gravity to ignite nuclear fusion. The area’s proximity makes it an ideal laboratory for observing these cosmic events in great detail.
Observations of the Corona Australis molecular cloud have led to the discovery of numerous brown dwarfs and proto-stars. Brown dwarfs are often referred to as “failed stars” because they have masses between that of the smallest stars and the largest planets, though are not massive enough to sustain hydrogen fusion.
Equipment
- Mount: 10 micron 2000
- Telescope: Takahashi Epsilon 160 ED f/3.3
- Camera: ZWO ASI6200MM-Pro
- Guiding: OAG
- Guide camera: ZWO ASI290MM Mini
- Filters: Astronomik LRGB
Acquisition details
- Integration: 22h
- Processing: PixInsight
- Location: Chile