{"id":562982,"date":"2026-07-01T07:12:12","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T07:12:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/562982\/"},"modified":"2026-07-01T07:12:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T07:12:12","slug":"apod-2026-july-1-the-cotton-candy-clouds-of-rho-ophiuchi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/562982\/","title":{"rendered":"APOD: 2026 July 1 \u2013 The Cotton Candy Clouds of Rho Ophiuchi"},"content":{"rendered":"

APOD: 2026 July 1 \u2013 The Cotton Candy Clouds of Rho Ophiuchi<\/p>\n

Discover the cosmos!<\/a>
\nEach day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.\n<\/p>\n

2026 July 1
\n

\n\"A<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

The Cotton Candy Clouds of Rho Ophiuchi <\/b>
Image Credit & Copyright: <\/b>
\n\u00c1ngel Molina<\/a>
\n
Text:<\/b>
\nKeighley Rockcliffe<\/a>
\n(NASA<\/a>
\nGSFC<\/a>,
\nUMBC CSST<\/a>,
\nCRESST II<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Explanation: <\/b>
\nAlthough they look like cotton candy, you cannot eat these clouds! Taken in
\nC\u00e1diz, Spain<\/a>,
\ntoday’s image<\/a>
\nfeatures
\nthe Rho Ophiuchi complex<\/a>,
\na rich tapestry of young and old astronomical phenomena. This colorful cloud complex is a
\nnearby star-forming region containing hundreds of
\nyoung stellar objects<\/a>,
\nincluding
\nprotostars<\/a> and
\nT Tauri stars<\/a>.
\nLight from
\nthe triple star system<\/a>
\nat its center
\nreflects<\/a>
\noff of small dust grains to create the blue
\nreflection nebula<\/a>.
\nUltraviolet<\/a>
\nlight from hot stars
\nionizes<\/a>
\nthe surrounding hydrogen gas, creating the red
\nemission nebula<\/a>.
\nAntares<\/a>,
\na red supergiant<\/a>
\nbig enough to engulf the Solar System\u2019s
\nasteroid belt<\/a>,
\nlights up the yellow region. Dark
\ninterstellar dust<\/a>
\nblocks some of the complex\u2019s color. Recent
\nJWST observations<\/a>
\nexhibit shadows cast by hidden
\ncircumstellar disks<\/a>,
\nthe beginning stages of planet formation.
\nMessier 4<\/a>,
\na globular cluster almost as old as the universe, sits in the bottom right and witnesses yet
\nanother chaotic burst of youth in the Milky Way.<\/p>\n

Tomorrow’s picture: <\/b>pixels in space<\/a><\/p>\n

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\n Authors & editors: <\/b>
\nRobert Nemiroff<\/a>
\n(MTU<\/a>) &
\nJerry Bonnell<\/a> (UMCP<\/a>)
NASA Official: <\/b> Amber Straughn
\nSpecific rights apply<\/a>.
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A service of:<\/b>
\nASD<\/a> at
\nNASA<\/a> \/
\nGSFC<\/a>,
\n
NASA Science Activation<\/a>
\n
&<\/b> Michigan Tech. U.<\/a><\/p>\n