molecular cloud
[/məˈlɛkjələr klaʊd/]
nounpl: molecular clouds
nuvem molecular
1. A type of interstellar cloud composed primarily of molecular hydrogen (H₂) and other molecules, typically found in regions of active star formation where temperatures are relatively low and densities are high.
The Orion Nebula contains several molecular clouds where new stars are actively forming.
A Nebulosa de Orion contém várias nuvens moleculares onde novas estrelas estão se formando ativamente.
2. A cosmic structure that serves as the birthplace of stars and planetary systems due to gravitational collapse of gas and dust.
Astronomers observed the molecular cloud using infrared telescopes to study star formation.
Astrônomos observaram a nuvem molecular usando telescópios infravermelhos para estudar a formação estelar.
This is a technical astronomical term used uniformly across scientific communities in both Brazil and Portugal. It appears primarily in academic, educational, and research contexts rather than in colloquial speech. The term has become standardized in Portuguese scientific literature following international astronomical nomenclature conventions. There are no significant regional variations in usage between Brazilian and European Portuguese in the scientific domain.
Related Idioms & Phrases
stellar nursery (referring to molecular clouds as birthplaces of stars)
cosmic incubator (metaphorical reference to molecular clouds)
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