Newborn Stars Choked by Glowing Dust
With springtime in full swing for the Northern Hemisphere, you may be able to hear the chirping of recently-hatched chicks wrapped snugly in their nests. But for Messier 78, a reflection nebula near the famous Orion’s Belt, springtime has been erupting for millions of years inside a cocoon of thick, choking smog. Messier 78’s ‘spring’ won’t end until its gas and dust has either been blown away or consumed by the voracious appetites of the clutch of baby stars it hides.
