Science
Space photo of the week: 'God's Hand' leaves astronomers scratching their heads
What it is: CG 4, a "cometary globule" often called "God's Hand"
Where it is: Gum Nebula, 1,300 light-years away in the constellation Puppis (the "poop deck")
When it was shared: May 6, 2024
Why it's so special: CG 4 is a fairly typical cloud of gas and dust where stars are being born, but its strange shape has earned it two odd names. Described as a "cometary globule" because of its faint tail's resemblance to a comet, it's also called "God's Hand" for its likeness to a massive outstretched arm reaching across the cosmos.
In this new image from the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) on the Blanco Telescope in Chile, CG 4's dusty head and long tail resemble a mouth about to eat a side-on galaxy called ESO 257-19. It's a chance alignment because the galaxy is over 100 million light-years beyond. A zoomable close-up image shows CG 4's head and tail and two young stars being born.
How cometary globules form is a mystery. Some astronomers theorize that they're shaped by stellar winds from massive hot stars nearby. Others suggest that these structures may be spherical nebulas that deform after being impacted by a nearby supernova — a star that exploded.
Related: James Webb telescope reveals fiery 'mane' of the Horsehead Nebula in spectacular new images
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