Radiation emissions from young stars create a hole in space

All previous descriptions of NCG 1999 said that the ominous black cloud was essentially a condensation of cold molecular gas and dust that was responsible for blocking the light. Astronomers had no reason to think otherwise until the powerful infrared eyes of the Herschel Space Telescope caught a glimpse of the object from space.

Nancy Atkinson

There is a black spot in space in the NGC 1999 nebula, and for years astronomers thought it was just a compressed cloud of gas and dust, blocking light from passing through it. However, the Herschel Space Telescope in Interfero Red, which has the ability to peer into these dense, dense clouds - made an unexpected discovery.

This black patch is actually a hole opened in the side of the nebula by jets and winds of gas from young stellar bodies in this region of space.
"No one has ever seen a hole like this," said Tom Magat of the University of Toledo in the United States. "It's as surprising as knowing you have worms digging under your lawn, only to find one morning they've created a huge gaping hole.

All previous descriptions of NCG 1999 said that the ominous black cloud was essentially a condensation of cold molecular gas and dust that was responsible for blocking the light. Astronomers had no reason to think otherwise until the powerful infrared eyes of the Herschel Space Telescope took a look at the object from space.

When Herschel looked in the direction of this nebula to study nearby young stars, the cloud continued to appear black, even though it wasn't supposed to be. Herschel's infrared instruments are designed to see into such clouds. So either the cloud was very dense or something was wrong. Further testing using ground telescopes yielded the same result. Therefore the astronomers came to the conclusion that this patch appears black not because it consists of a thick pocket of gas but rather a completely empty area. Someone drilled a hole through the cloud.

Stars are born in dense clouds of dust and gas. Although jets and gas winds have been seen coming from young stars in the past, the question of how stars use gas and dust to eject material from their surroundings and out of their birth cloud remains open. With Herschel's help this may be the first time we watch this process.

Astronomers believe that the hole must have opened when a narrow jet of gas from one of the young stars in the area cut through the layer of dust and gas that forms NGC 1999. The strong radiation from nearby mature stars may also help clean the hole. Whatever the exact description of the chain of events, it is an important glimpse into the way newborn stars disperse their birth clouds.