CG 4
| Molecular cloud | |
|---|---|
| Bok globule | |
Image of CG 4 taken by the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope. | |
| Observation data: J2000 epoch | |
| Right ascension | 07h 34m 09.0s |
| Declination | −46° 54′ 18″ |
| Distance | 1,300 ly (400 pc) |
| Constellation | Puppis |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | 1.5 × 8 ly (0.46 × 2.45 pc) |
| Designations | BHR 21, DCld 259.4-12.7, FEST 2-30, Sandqvist 103 |
CG 4, commonly referred to as God's Hand, is a star-forming region located in the Puppis constellation, about 1,300 light-years (400 pc) from Earth. It is one of several objects referred to as "cometary globules", because its shape is similar to that of a comet. It has a dense head formed of gas and dust, which is around 1.5 ly (0.46 pc) in diameter, and an elongated faint tail around 8 ly (2.5 pc) in length.
CG 4, and the nearby cometary globules, generally point away from the Vela Supernova Remnant, located at the center of the Gum Nebula.