{
  "id": 18302829,
  "title": "Dark nebulae are star-obscuring clouds of gas and dust",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/dark-nebulae-are-star-obscuring-clouds-of-gas-and-dust",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-11-05T09:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "EarthSky",
    "slug": "earthsky",
    "url": "https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/dark-nebulae-molecular-clouds-dust/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dark nebulae, also known as absorption nebulae, are clouds of gas and dust that exist in the depths of space and possess enough density to block out light from stars located behind them. Discovered by American astronomer Edward Emerson Barnard in 1919, these nebulae have since been identified in numerous instances throughout our Milky Way Galaxy. Among the most well-known dark nebulae are the Great Rift, the Coalsack, the Horsehead Nebula, and the Snake Nebula.\n\nThe Great Rift, or Dark Rift, can be observed with the naked eye during a clear night sky from a location with minimal light pollution. It appears as a dark line that splits the seemingly continuous band of stars constituting the Milky Way, dividing it into two lengthwise sections. The Coalsack, a prominent dark nebula, is best viewed from the Southern Hemisphere and lies within the constellation Crux the Southern Cross. The Horsehead Nebula, or Barnard 33, is renowned for its distinctive horse-shaped formation and can be found in Orion's Belt. Lastly, the Snake Nebula, or Barnard 72, is an S-shaped dark nebula located in the constellation Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer.",
  "summary": "Dark nebulae are clouds of gas and dust in space. They block the light of stars shining behind them. Often, they're locations where new stars are forming. The post Dark nebulae are star-obscuring clouds of gas and dust first appeared on EarthSky .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}