By ESA/Hubble
November 13, 2022
A little, thick cloud of gas and dust called CB 130-3 obscures the center of this image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. Credit: ESA/Hubble, NASA & & STScI, C. Britt, T. Huard, A. Pagan
In this celestial image caught by the Hubble Space Telescope, a little, dense cloud of gas and dust called CB 130-3 blots out the center of the field of view. CB 130-3 is an object called a thick core, which is a compact assemblage of gas and dust. Located in the constellation Serpens, this specific thick core seems to billow throughout a field of background stars.
Because they are the birth places of stars, thick cores like CB 130-3 are of specific interest to astronomers. During the collapse of these cores, enough mass can collect in one location to reach the densities and temperature levels required to fire up hydrogen combination, marking the birth of a brand-new star. Although it might not be apparent from this image, ingrained deep within CB 130-3 is a compact item teetering on the verge of becoming a fully-fledged star.
Astronomers utilized Hubbles Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) to better understand the environment surrounding this recently established star. As this image reveals, the density of CB 130-3 isnt constant; the external edges of the cloud consist of just rare wisps, whereas at its core CB 130-3 blots out background light entirely. The gas and dust making up CB 130-3 impact not just the brightness however likewise the color of background stars, with stars towards the center of the cloud appearing redder than their equivalents at the outskirts of this image. Astronomers utilized Hubble to determine this reddening result and chart out the density of CB 130-3, providing insights into the inner structure of this excellent nursery.