Giant glowing cloud, the size of 40 moons, discovered near our Solar System

An artist’s impression of how the Eos molecular cloud might appear in the sky if it were visible to the naked eye. (Image: (Photo: Rutgers University)

Looking up at the night sky can feel routine. But sometimes, the universe throws in a surprise that sparks curiosity all over again. That’s what happened when astronomers spotted a glowing hydrogen cloud not far from the solar system.

A team led by Rutgers University-New Brunswick discovered the large structure. It lies just 300 light years from Earth. Named “Eos” after the Greek goddess of dawn, the structure appears to be a star-forming region. Scientists believe it may help explain how stars and planets form in space.

The details of the study were published in Nature. Eos is a molecular hydrogen cloud, detected using far-ultraviolet light. This marks the first time such a cloud has been spotted this way. The data shows hydrogen molecules glowing through ultraviolet fluorescence.

Blakesley Burkhart, lead author of the study, said this detection is special. “This cloud is literally glowing in the dark,” she said. “We can now use this light to study how gas becomes stars.”

Unlike past discoveries, Eos was invisible in ordinary light. But in far-ultraviolet emissions, it reveals itself as a huge glowing crescent. It sits on the edge of the Local Bubble, a large cavity filled with hot gas that surrounds our solar system.

Scientists say Eos poses no danger to Earth. But its location makes it a valuable target for study. Because it’s nearby, scientists can closely observe how gas and dust form stars. This could fill long-standing gaps in our understanding of galaxy evolution.

Molecular clouds like Eos are full of hydrogen—the building block of stars. These clouds also carry molecules such as carbon monoxide, all essential for forming planets and life.

Burkhart added that Eos offers a rare look into early star formation. “We often see solar systems being born,” she explained. “But we’ve struggled to watch how it all begins. Eos now gives us a front-row seat to that process.”

The discovery shows how new tools can change how we view the universe. It also reminds us that even in a familiar sky, there’s still much left to uncover.