Australian Sky & Telescope — July 2017

http://www.skyandtelescope.com.au 55

SERGIO EGUIVAR

Lupus 1 Molecular Cloud

Lupushostsacomplexregionofsky

just west of the centre of the galaxy

that contains extensive dark nebulae

similar to the more northerly region of

the Great Rift. The greatest of the dark

nebulae are molecular clouds — dense

collections of hydrogen (H 2 )molecules,

dust and stars. Because they’re so dense

—andintheprocessofcondensing

and –42° with red plates taken with

the 48-inch Schmidt telescope.) The

SL catalogue provides the equatorial

co-ordinates of the centre of each

cloud (equinox 1950), the galactic

coordinates, the approximate area in

square degrees, and the opacity class,

which numbers the opacity of each

nebula from 1–6, with 1 being the least

opaque, 6 being the most.

more — many of these clouds also

contain active star-forming regions.

The Lupus Molecular Cloud Complex,

one of the nearest and largest low-mass

star forming complexes, divides into

TBROKEN CLOUDS The dark patches of

SL 11 run approximately 30′ long, orientated

roughly northeast to southwest between Eta

Lupi and HD 142889. Look for the stronger

pitch on the western end of the nebulosity.

HD 142889

η Lupi

SL 11