I study star formation with James Di Francesco (HIA-NRC).

Star formation takes place in giant molecular clouds, which are cool, dense regions of gas and dust in space. Because of these high densities, optical light from background is absorbed and we seem them as dark voids (see the optical image of the Horsehead Nebula on the right).

At longer wavelengths (ie., microwaves or radio waves), we can see the glowing gas within the cloud. With these observations, we hope to understand how stars form!

Perseus Molecular Cloud in the infrared

Perseus Molecular Cloud in the optical