LDN 673 (Lynds’ Dark Nebula 673) is a dense, highly fractured dark cloud complex located in the constellation Aquila, about 400–600 light-years from Earth. This dark nebula is situated near the center of the Aquila Rift, a prominent mass of molecular clouds that stretches across the summer Milky Way in Aquila, Serpens, and eastern Ophiuchus.
Physical Characteristics
LDN 673 is composed of interstellar dust and gas, with sub-micrometer particles coated in frozen carbon monoxide and nitrogen that effectively block visible light from stars behind it, creating the appearance of black voids in the sky. The nebula is fragmented into many pieces, each harboring material capable of eventually forming thousands of new stars.
Star Formation Activity
The region includes signs of active star formation, such as the small reddish nebulosity RNO 109 and several Herbig-Haro objects like HH 32 near the young T-Tauri star V1352 (AS 353). Recent imaging studies have discovered faint Herbig-Haro objects in LDN 673 using specialized color-composite imaging techniques.
Observational Notes
LDN 673 is best viewed from the Northern Hemisphere, especially in late spring and early summer when Aquila is prominent. For amateur and professional astrophotographers, capturing the intricate detail of LDN 673’s dust structure requires dark skies and long exposures, as the dense clouds block most background starlight and create complex, textured regions against the Milky Way.
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