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Interstellar Gas and Dust

The gas between stars is mostly hydrogen and helium scattered at varying densities between the stars in our galaxy and other galaxies. The proportions of the gases are similar to those in the Sun. Interstellar gas supplies the raw material for star formation. Carbon monoxide and hydroxyl molecules (CO and OH) have also been detected within interstellar gas, along with highly ionized oxygen, nitrogen, carbon and silicon, which are likely remnants of past supernovae. The dust is made up of tiny grains of carbon, iron, and iron-magnesium silicates scattered at varying densities between the stars in our galaxy and other galaxies.

Featured Images

artist's concept of ID2299, a galaxy that is losing much of its gas

Losing Gas January 12, 2021
Milky Way Dark Rift

Dark Rift August 6, 2018
The Crescent Nebula

Colorful Demise December 14, 2017
A ring of rubble encircles the star Fomalhaut

Rubble Ring May 19, 2017
Infrared image of Alpha Camelopardalis

Plowing Through the Galaxy January 25, 2017
Infrared image of a bow shock in front of a fast star

Shocking Star January 7, 2016
The system V664 Cassiopeia is creating a planetary nebula

Bread Crumbs July 23, 2015
Infrared view of the interstellar medium

Filling the Void April 9, 2015
Hubble Space Telescope view of V838 Monocerotis in 2006

Brilliant Echo February 11, 2015
False-color image of M27, the Dumbbell Nebula

Last Gasp July 12, 2014
Infrared view of Serpens South star cluster and nebula

Unmasking Hidden Stars June 24, 2014
Combined visible, X-ray image of M51, the whirlpool galaxy

Colorful Whirlpool June 4, 2014
Close-up view of the California Nebula in infrared light.

California Nebula January 25, 2014

Hot Dust January 7, 2014
RS Puppis, a supergiant star seen by Hubble Space Telescope

Dusty Skies December 18, 2013
The Cat's Paw Nebula in submillimeter and near-infrared light

Star Maker September 27, 2013
Visible light (left) and infrared view of the dark molecular cloud Barnard 68

Looking into the Darkness July 7, 2013
Starbirth region on the edge of the Milky Way galaxy

Starbirth June 6, 2013
Combined visual and millimeter-wave view of Orion Nebula, M42

Cold Fire May 16, 2013
Infrared view of Betelgeuse

Messy Star April 12, 2013
Star forming region in Orion

Hiding Places January 23, 2013
Gemini Observatory view of outskirts of Orion Nebula

Knotheads January 10, 2013
Beams of light shine through the Egg Nebula

Stellar Headlights May 1, 2012
Artist's concept of stars and a gas cloud near the Milky Way's central black hol

Snack Time March 29, 2012
Space-based infrared view of the Large Magellanic Cloud

Busy Neighbor March 20, 2012
Infrared view of the spiral galaxy IC 342

Tangled Galaxy January 22, 2012
Infrared view of starbirth in the vast nebula complex Cygnus X

Busy Nursery January 13, 2012
Horsehead Nebula photographed through a McDonald Observatory telescope

3D Horsehead December 20, 2011
Stars and gas swirl around the black hole at the center of the Milky Way

Swirling Center September 27, 2011
Spiral galaxy NGC 3621 in the constellation Hydra

Galactic Sparkler February 2, 2011
Hubble view of Hanny's Voorwerp and the galaxy IC 2497

In the Spotlight January 11, 2011

Stellar Sculptors July 15, 2010
A hot, massive star 'exhales' a breath of oxygen in this recent image from WISE.

Breath of Life June 22, 2010
Starbirth Factories

Starbirth Factories May 24, 2010

Cold Fingers March 19, 2010

Radio Programs

Interstellar Probe A trip to interstellar space September 29, 2020

Emptiness The emptiness between the stars December 8, 2019

Big Balloons Big balloons for the Antarctic December 1, 2019

Dark Clouds Clouds darken the Milky Way August 6, 2018

Early Light Looking for “fog” in the early universe December 15, 2017

Emptiness The emptiness between the stars July 23, 2017

M82 A gas crisis for a vigorous galaxy March 26, 2017

Supernova 1987A III Keeping an eye on a dead star February 24, 2017

Shocking Star A star rams its way through the galaxy January 25, 2017

Smith’s Cloud A big cloud falls toward the Milky Way August 14, 2016

Tau Ceti Visiting a dusty star system — after this. January 4, 2016