Astronomers have made a surprising celestial discovery with the Dark Energy Camera capturing a stunning image of a ghostly hand-like feature reaching towards a spiral galaxy in the Puppis constellation. The image shows CG 4, a cometary globule located 1,300 light years away from Earth in the Milky Way. Cometary globules are rare cosmic phenomena filled with dense gas and dust, with extended tails resembling comets.
Scientists are still unsure about the origin and formation of these unique structures, as they are difficult to detect due to their faintness and hidden tails. The special filter on the Dark Energy Camera allows for the detection of the ionized hydrogen glow emitted by CG 4. Stellar radiation not only makes the globule visible but also poses a threat by destroying its head over time, although it can support the birth of new stars within.
Most cometary globules are found in the Gum Nebula, believed to have formed from a stellar explosion about 1 million years ago. The shape of the globules could have been disrupted by supernovae or influenced by winds and radiation from nearby massive stars. The unusual tail formations in the Gum Nebula suggest a connection to the presence of supernova remnants and a pulsar at its center.
This celestial discovery offers a unique opportunity for astronomers to study the fascinating and mysterious cometary globules found in our galaxy.