fuzzy blobs in galaxy map

hoopy · Jun 22, 2015

Does anyone know what the fuzzy blobs in the galaxy map are? They look like they're in the background, like other galaxies or something but you can scroll right on top of them so they're in the galaxy. There's one at -188, -1535, 26048.

Even if you turn off all star types they're still there. They're fuzzy in 'map' view rather than being a solid circle like other stars are. They also don't want to get the map grid directly on them - if you try they stay below and then 'jump' above as you move up/down. Easiest to see this by rotating the grid is side on and they try.

Really REALLY weird...

Oveja-Negra · Jun 22, 2015

most probably a nebula or cloud

Kolato · Jun 22, 2015

Gas cloud, either formed as a new star is born,
or formed when an old star dies by pushing of it's outer layers, eventually it gets so dense it creates a planetary nebula.

hoopy · Jun 22, 2015

Wouldn't they all be MUCH bigger? These are less than 1LY across - they fit in an individual square of the grid

Alec Turner · Jun 22, 2015

If you mean what I think you mean then they're really annoying. I spent quite a lot of time on my way back from Sag A looking for black holes, etc and had just non-sequence and a few other rare star types filtered (all of which show in grey). I kept being fooled by these little "whisps" into thinking there was an interesting star when there wasn't.

Kalpa · Jun 22, 2015

My conclusion is that they're some kind of rendering error for major distant stars. Sometimes they align with bright and/or massive objects, but more often than not they can't be pinpointed to any real object in the galaxy.

hoopy · Jun 22, 2015

Alex - yes I think we're talking about the same thing.
Kalpa - that sounds like a possible explanation - I'll try seeing if it aligns with anything.

The weird thing is that if you're zoomed out so you can distinctly make out the sphere where stars are being shown then these are still shown outside that... I'll try and remember to get a picture next time (why didn't I when I was zooming about looking for them!)

drkaii · Jun 23, 2015

I asked this question once before and it seems the consensus is that they are place holders, most likely for future accretion discs. They are always centered around either bright Os and , or, most often, protostars.

You can actually see them in the sky. But when in the systems, nothing. Unless they are too faint to see from within

Zenith · Jun 23, 2015

hoopy said:
Does anyone know what the fuzzy blobs in the galaxy map are? They look like they're in the background, like other galaxies or something but you can scroll right on top of them so they're in the galaxy. There's one at -188, -1535, 26048.

That area sounds familiar. Without looking at the Galaxy Map, is that "G2 Cloud"?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagittarius_A*#Discovery_of_G2_gas_cloud_on_an_accretion_course
http://www.mpg.de/8777573/gas-cloud-galactic-centre
http://www.sci-news.com/astronomy/science-g2-dusty-cloud-milky-ways-center-02641.html

Or do you mean the small glowing points throughout the Galaxy Map? They tend to be very luminous objects such as O/B/A stars, some T-Tauri stars, some neutron stars and black holes.

Katejina · Jun 23, 2015

I actively hunt these during my travels because every single one has been about a O/B class star and those are my favorite types.

The first one I found, however, was around my first neutron star.

Edit:

Here's a visual difference in-system:

Class B star that isn't the focal point of the fuzzy spot:

Class B star that is the focal point of the fuzzy spot:

They are generally bigger and much brighter. Also the bluer shade.

The middle star was a class O, to boot.