This sub-cloud is part of the Eta Carina complex in the southern hemisphere constellation of Carina (The Ship’s Keel). It’s a two-light-year-long region of dense gas and dust that is being eaten away by intense radiation from nearby stars. If there are any newly-forming stars inside this cloud, they’ll stop growing as the gas and dust are destroyed because they won’t have a source of material from which to form. This Carina sub-cloud — imaged by Hubble Space Telescope in 1999 looks so striking because it reminds folks of things that look very familiar — sort of like watching clouds in Earth’s sky and figuring out what they resemble. The scientists who are studying this cosmic cloud suggest that it looks like a superhero flying through a cloud, arm up, with a saved person in tow below. That’s all very noble and could mean lots of things politically. However many folks have seen this for another shape it very closely resembles — as the universe giving us the cosmic finger!