---
title: "Astronomy Photo of the Day: 12/12/14 — The Dark Tower in Scorpius"
description: "[caption id=\"attachment_34026\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"850\"] Image Credit: Robert Gendler[/caption] Lurking about 5,000 light-years from Earth is an open cluster of young, energetic stars, dubbed NGC 6231. Given their less-than-Sunny disposition, these OB-type stars can wreak a lot of havoc on their surroundings. Proof of this can be seen in today's featured photo. Despite being a little over 100 light-years away..."
date: "2014-12-12"
modified: "2014-12-12"
authors:
  - name: "Jaime Trosper"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/jaimefqtq"
url: "https://futurism.com/apotd-dark-tower-in-scorpius"
categories:
  - "From Quarks to Quasars"
---

# Astronomy Photo of the Day: 12/12/14 — The Dark Tower in Scorpius

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/The-Dark-Tower.jpg>)

[![Image Credit: Robert Gendler](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/The-Dark-Tower.jpg>)](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/The-Dark-Tower.jpg>)
*Image Credit: Robert Gendler *Image: [NASA/JPL/Univ. Arizona/Univ. Idaho](<http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/>)**

Lurking about 5,000 light-years from Earth is an open cluster of young, energetic stars, dubbed [NGC 6231](<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_6231>). Given their less-than-Sunny disposition, these OB-type stars can wreak a lot of havoc on their surroundings. Proof of this can be seen in today's featured photo.

Despite being a little over 100 light-years away from the nebula pictured here — sometimes called the Dark Tower in Scorpius *(formally dubbed IC 4628)* — these stars have had a noticeable impact on interstellar gas and dust. In some regions, the ultraviolet light streaming from the surface of each star has [carved out large cavities](<https://futurism.com/apotd-n44>) in the gas.

These cavities, paired with contrasting shades of black, make the region a picture of perfection. The black comes from fine grains of interstellar dust, which form dark nebulae when it has gathered in vast quantities. However, calling this a dark nebula is only telling half the story, as the gas and dust combine to generate something called a cometary globule. This impressive example spans nearly 40 light-years across, and is believed to be the site of ongoing star formation. Said newly-formed stars play a role in setting the hydrogen gas alite, powering the characteristic glow of ionization *(pictured in red)*. When their light is scattered by the nebula's dust, they also create several small reflection nebulae *(seen in blue)*.

The cluster itself, NGC 6231 *(also known as the Northern Jewel Box, or the False Comet Cluster)*, also belongs to the Scorpius OB1 association.

## Author
Jaime is a freelance writer, who finds great joy in sharing the wonders of universe with others. She used this passion to launch "From Quarks to Quasars" in 2012.