A Gloomy Veil in Ophiuchus

The diffuse hydrogen-alpha glow of emission living Sh2-27 fills this cosmic scene. The discipline of view spans nearly 3 degrees across the nebula-wealthy constellation Ophiuchus toward the central Milky Intention. A Gloomy Veil of wispy interstellar mud clouds draped across the foreground is basically identified as LDN 234 and LDN 204 from the 1962 Catalog of Gloomy Nebulae by American astronomer Beverly Lynds. Sh2-27 itself is the orderly nonetheless faint HII living surrounding runaway O-form indispensable particular person Zeta Ophiuchi. Collectively with the Zeta Oph HII living, LDN 234 and LDN 204 are doubtless 500 or so gentle-years away. At that distance, this telescopic frame would be about 25 gentle-years broad.