Dark Globule in IC 1396

Science Animations Video • December 18th, 2003 • ssc2003-06v2

This 22-second animation shows how our view of a dark globule in IC 1396 changes as we move from visible light through near-infrared to mid-infrared wavelengths. The dark globule is virtually opaque at visible-light wavelengths and becomes transparent in the near-infrared. A glowing stellar nursery, with never before seen protostars and young stars, is vividly revealed through mid-infrared images obtained by the Spitzer Space Telescope.

Video Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt (SSC/Caltech)