August 24, 1997
The stars above are ancient, but your chance to be here is exquisitely temporary.
The Snake Nebula in Ophiuchus
Birthday · August 24, 1997
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APOD published August 24, 1997. Credit: B. Wallis and R. Provin. A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.
What slithers there? The dark winding lanes visible in part of the constellation Ophiuchus belong to the Snake Nebula. The Snake Nebula is a series of dark absorption clouds made up of Interstellar dust. Interstellar dust grains - composed predominantly of carbon - absorb visible starlight and reradiate much of it in the infrared. This absorption causes stars behind the clouds to be obscured from view, hence the appearance of starless voids on the sky.
Image credit: B. Wallis and R. Provin