Deep Sky Observer
Amateur Astronomy For All
Dark Nebulas
A dark nebula is an area of dust in space that blocks visible light from stars behind or within it. Many of these "holes in the sky" were cataloged by the astronomer E. E. Barnard.
Getting Started
These objects are difficult to observe requiring very dark skies to increase the contrast between the starry background of the Milky Way and the dark nebula. Use wide-field optics, binoculars, or even the naked eye. A good staring object is the Pipe Nebula, in the constellation Ophiuchus.