Astronomers have spotted a ‘hand’ reaching for the stars in incredible images from space.
The ghostly-looking mitt shape appears to be emerging from the interstellar region and reaching out into the cosmos.
It is in fact a cloud made up of dust and gas, stretching through space, 1,300 light years away from our solar system, in the constellation ‘Puppis’.
READ MORE: ‘I scattered mum and dad’s ashes in SPACE after finding letter with final request’
- Advertisement -
The unique formation was captured by U.S. National Science Foundation NOIRLab, as reported by What’s the Jam.
Ominous in appearance, it’s what’s known as a cometary globule, because it is shaped like a comet.
And this one, named in scientific circles as CG4, has been dubbed ‘God’s Hand’.
It has a dusty head, a diameter of 1.5 light-years and a faint tail, which is about eight light-years long.
According to researchers, it contains enough gas to feed the active formation of several new, sun-sized stars.
- Advertisement -
Astronomers still debate the phenomenon and how they form in such a distinct way.
Some theories suggest they may have begun as sphere-shaped nebulas that were blown aside by a supernova.
Others think they are formed by stellar winds from nearby enormous stars or other objects.
- Advertisement -
READ MORE: SPACE ‘glamping’ expeditions promise ‘maximum comfort’ with ‘gourmet cuisine’ – at £106,000
