This 'cosmic dust' is a concentration of various elements that can be found throughout our Milky Way galaxy and many galaxies like it. Despite looking somewhat ominous, it's these clouds of elements that are responsible for the formation of new stars. These clouds are referred to by NASA as Bok globules, with the globules above absorbing light emanating from a nearby emission nebula in the NGC 281 region. Their existence was first theorised back in the 1940s by astronomer Bart Bok, who the globules were later named after.
11. Crab Nebula
The Crab Nebula is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful sights in the observable universe, and the above image is the most detailed yet. Located in the constellation of Taurus, the Crab Nebula is a pulsar wind nebula and supernova remnant. The Nebula itself has a diameter of over 11 light years, and is steadily expanding at a rate of 1,500 kilometres every second. The centre of the Crab Nebula contains two stars - one of which being responsible for the entire nebula's existence in the first place.
