A recent image released by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) captured a dark cosmic nebula 7 light-years in diameter.
The ancient giant nebula looks like a giant beacon peering out into the cold black void of space, or like a giant looking for planets to devour, according to Science Alert.
conical nebula
The site states that “the new image was taken by the European Observatory’s Large Telescope to mark the 60th anniversary of its founding, and the strange subject of the image is the conical nebula, which is part of a larger nebula at 2,500 light-years from Earth called “NGC 2264” in the constellation of the Unicorn.
This pale nebula may not look like most other bright nebulae with the complex range of colors telescopes are used to seeing.
dark and thick
This is because not all nebulae are created equal, as some reflect light from nearby stars, while others produce their own light.
Some, like the Cone Nebula, are dark and thick with dust that absorbs visible light that can pass through even light at wavelengths invisible to the human eye, such as infrared and radio.
