vdB 16 is the 16th entry in van den Bergh Catalog of Reflection Nebulae[2] compiled by Sidney van den Bergh. It is a relative small reflection nebula in the constellation Aries about 980 light-years distant[1]. This colorful blue nebula is illuminated by the class F, 9th magnitude, star cataloged HIP 16170[1]. vdB 16 is located in the very large Perseus Cloud[1]. This cloud of dust and gas extends over 500 light-years and is host to an abundance of young stars[3]. Located in the upper right of the above image is the dark nebula cataloged B 204 (LDN 1455[1]. This dark cloud of dense dust is almost devoid of any visible stars. Such clouds, however, are sites of new star nurseries hidden by the dense dust and cool gas[4].
References
1Irida Observatory: https://www.irida-observatory.org/CCD/VdB16/VdB16.html
2Wixsite: https://guinotmathieu.wixsite.com/astrophotographies/catalogue-de-van-den-bergh?lang=en
3NASA: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/pia23405-perseus-molecular-cloud
4Universe Today: https://www.universetoday.com/99467/dark-nebula-hides-star-birth/
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