How are very cold, non-luminous molecular clouds primarily observed?
Answer
Using microwave or radio telescopes instead of visible light.
Molecular clouds represent the coldest and densest precursor stage to traditional, visible nebulae. These environments are characterized by extremely low temperatures, sometimes only 10 to 20 Kelvin above absolute zero, and lack the high-energy processes that cause visible light emission or strong reflection. Because they do not interact strongly with visible light, observing them requires instruments that detect lower-energy radiation, specifically microwave or radio telescopes, which can reveal the structure and composition of these cold, dark reservoirs of future star material.
#Videos
Nebulae: Crash Course Astronomy #36 - YouTube
Types of Nebulae - Clouds of Gas and Dust - YouTube
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