Which famous object serves as a striking example of a Dark Nebula, seen as a silhouette?
Answer
Horsehead Nebula (Barnard 33)
Dark Nebulae are defined by their density, which is so significant that they absorb virtually all light from the luminous stars or emission nebulae situated directly behind them, rendering them visible only as dark patches against a brighter background. The Horsehead Nebula, designated Barnard 33, is the quintessential example of this phenomenon. It appears as a dark silhouette, strikingly resembling a horse's head, precisely because it is a dense molecular cloud blocking the light from the richer emission areas within the broader Orion Molecular Cloud Complex.
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