Eos: Astronomers Discover Glowing Molecular Cloud Near Solar System

Astronomers have discovered a previously invisible molecular cloud, dubbed "Eos," near our solar system. The cloud emits radiation in the far ultraviolet frequency, causing it to glow. This discovery was made by a team led by Rutgers University scientists. Eos is a crescent-shaped cloud of gas and dust about 300 light-years from Earth. It has an estimated mass of around 3,400 suns and sits at the edge of the Local Bubble. The data was captured by the FIMS-SPEAR instrument on the Korean satellite STSAT-1. Unlike most molecular clouds, Eos is CO-dark, making it difficult to detect by traditional means. The discovery opens new possibilities for studying the molecular universe and how galaxies transform gas and dust into stars and planets. Eos poses no danger to the solar system but offers a unique opportunity to study the interstellar medium.