image: When this dark region on the nebula NGC1999 was observed in visible light (inset), and from ground-based infrared telescopes (main image, green/blue) it was assumed to be caused by a dark cloud of cold dust. But Herschel’s far-infrared observations (main image, red/yellow) also showed a dark area, telling astronomers that there really is nothing there – it is a hole in the nebula, blown by the bright star just to the left. Image credit: ESA/Herschel/PACS/HOPS/NOAO (main image) ; NASA/ESA/STScI (inset) view more
Credit: Image credit: ESA/Herschel/PACS/HOPS/NOAO (main image) ; NASA/ESA/STScI (inset)