What is the primary reason the Horsehead Nebula appears as a dark cloud?
Answer
It is a foreground silhouette of dense dust against a backdrop of glowing emission nebula
The Horsehead Nebula is a classic example of a dark nebula, meaning its visible shape is due to dense, opaque foreground material blocking the light from a luminous source behind it.
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Nebulae: Crash Course Astronomy #36 - YouTube
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