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APOD: 2026 July 31 – NGC 4372 and the Dark Doodad
This text describes the Dark Doodad Nebula and its apparent proximity to the globular star cluster NGC 4372 in the southern skies. It details their physical properties and relative positions from Earth.
Why it matters
The nebula is a target for people using binoculars to view the constellation Musca, allowing them to observe interstellar dust clouds.
The details
- The Dark Doodad Nebula is about 700 light-years distant.
- NGC 4372 is a star cluster located roughly 20,000 light-years away.
- Dennis di Cicco coined the name 'Dark Doodad' in 1986.
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Key connections
Dennis di Cicco is related to Australia
Dennis di Cicco coined the moniker Dark Doodad while observing Comet Halley from the Australian outback.
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