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Dark nebula

The Lupus Clouds

Also Lupus complex

Open in Ouranos

A group of clouds in Lupus that are forming young stars.

Measured

Distance
about 509 light-years (published estimates 493–780)
Constellation
Lupus
Position (J2000)
RA 15h 48m 24s, Dec −35.30°

How far, from the Sun

About 509 light-years. To cross it:

  • Light509 years
  • Voyager 1's speed9.04 million years
  • Driving at 100 km/h5.49 billion years

Voyager 1 at the speed it moved outward over the year to 2026-10-25 (JPL Horizons). Driving: nonstop, never refuelling.

Facts

  • Its young stars still have discs of dust and gas, where planets may form.
  • Its distance comes from where stars behind it start to look dimmed and reddened by its dust, measured with Gaia.

Where this comes from

  • Zucker et al. 2020, A&A 633, A51 (156 pc on the sightline used; their sightlines across the cloud span 151–239 pc)
  • This research has made use of the SIMBAD database, CDS, Strasbourg, France (Wenger et al. 2000, A&AS 143, 9).
  • This research has made use of the VizieR catalogue access tool, CDS, Strasbourg, France (DOI: 10.26093/cds/vizier).

Every catalogue Ouranos draws is credited on the credits page.