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Dark Doodad Nebula

Dark nebula
The Dark Doodad is the vertical streak at center
Observation data: J2000 epoch
Right ascension	12 25 00
Declination	−71° 42′ 00″
Constellation	Musca
Physical characteristics
Dimensions	≈3 degrees
Designations	Sandqvist 149, CG 21, BHR 80, TGU H1875, DCld 301.7-07.2, G301.70-7.16
See also: Lists of nebulae

The Dark Doodad Nebula is a dark nebula near the globular cluster NGC 4372, much closer than the centre of the galaxy and in the galactic plane, having a length of nearly three degrees of arc. Although officially unnamed, this long molecular cloud has come to be known under this name. It can be found in the southern constellation of Musca (the Fly) with strong binoculars.

This cloud consists of regions of dense gas and dust, and is one of the closest star forming regions to the Solar System. It was described in Sky & Telescope as one of the finest dark nebulae—one that is "wonderful, winding, and very definite". Just to the east of the southern end of the Dark Doodad is NGC 4372. It has also been called the Musca nebula and grouped as the Musca-Chamaeleonis Molecular Cloud.

History

The nebula was catalogued by Aage Sandqvist, astronomer at Stockholm Observatory, in 1977. The name Dark Doodad was given to it by American amateur astronomer and writer Dennis di Cicco in 1986 upon seeing an image he took from Alice Springs in central Australia. Steven Coe gave it the name Sandqvist 149, because he believed it should be named after the astronomer who found it, though he acknowledges that the popular term prevails.

Gallery

• Dark Doodad Nebula in LRGB

References

1. ^ Nemiroff, R.; Bonnell, J., eds. (December 8, 2008). "The Dark Doodad Nebula". Astronomy Picture of the Day. NASA. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
2. ^ Coe, Steven R. (2007). Nebulae and How to Observe Them. New York, New York: Springer. p. 95. ISBN 978-1-84628-482-3.
3. ^ Whitman, Alan (February 2002). "Nebulae of the Deep South". Sky & Telescope. Vol. 103, no. 2. p. 108. Bibcode:2002S&T...103b.108W. Archived from the original on February 10, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
4. Hacar, A.; Kainulainen, J.; Tafalla, M.; Beuther, H.; Alves, J. (February 24, 2016). "The Musca cloud: A 6 pc-long velocity-coherent, sonic filament". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 587. EDP Sciences: A97. arXiv:1511.06370. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201526015. ISSN 0004-6361.
5. Sandqvist, Aa. (May 1977), "More southern dark dust clouds", Astronomy & Astrophysics, 57: 467, Bibcode:1977A&A....57..467S
6. Ventrudo, Brian (May 27, 2008). "The 'Dark Doodad'". One-Minute Astronomer. Archived from the original on August 15, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2012.

External links

• "Sandqvist 149". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg.
• Nemiroff, R.; Bonnell, J., eds. (January 31, 2013). "NGC 4372 and the Dark Doodad". Astronomy Picture of the Day. NASA.
• The dictionary definition of doodad at Wiktionary

v t e Constellation of Musca
List of stars in Musca Musca in Chinese astronomy
Stars	Bayer α β γ δ ε ζ ζ η θ ι ι λ μ λ Cha Variable R S T Y RT SY TU TV UU BO EZ FH GQ GR GU GS GT KR KY KZ LS MP V357 V415 HR 4387 4389 4401 4406 4425 4448 4485 4538 4549 4596 4597 4601 4604 4611 4614 4615 4664 4669 4692 4710 4720 4769 4804 4841 4862 4907 4966 4977 4994 5000 5002 5012 5030 5049 5069 5093 5119 HD 98671 101805 103482 105822 111232 112410 113919 Other Gliese 440 PSR J1141−6545 TYC 8998-760-1
Exoplanets HD 111232 b YSES 2 b
Star clusters NGC 4372 NGC 4463 NGC 4815 NGC 4833
Nebulae	NGC 5189 Other BHR 71 Dark Doodad Nebula Engraved Hourglass Nebula
Category

• Musca
• Dark nebulae