The Lupus 3 dark cloud and associated hot young stars

This evocative image shows a dark cloud where new stars are forming along with a cluster of brilliant stars that have already emerged from their dusty stellar nursery. This cloud is known as Lupus 3 and it lies about 600 light-years from Earth in the constellation of Scorpius (The Scorpion). It is likely that the Sun formed in a similar star formation region more than four billion years ago. This picture was taken with the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope at the La Silla Observatory in Chile and is the best image ever taken of this little-known object.

Credit:

ESO/F. Comeron

About the Image

Id:eso1303a
Type:Observation
Release date:16 January 2013, 12:00
Related releases:eso1303
Size:8828 x 8607 px

About the Object

Name:Lupus 3
Type:Milky Way : Nebula : Appearance : Dark
Distance:600 light years
Constellation:Scorpius
Category:Nebulae

Image Formats

Large JPEG
50.6 MB
Screensize JPEG
581.2 KB

Zoomable


Wallpapers

1024x768
475.7 KB
1280x1024
795.3 KB
1600x1200
1.1 MB
1920x1200
1.2 MB
2048x1536
1.7 MB

Coordinates

Position (RA):16 9 36.08
Position (Dec):-39° 2' 59.24"
Field of view:35.03 x 34.15 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 0.1° left of vertical

Colours & filters

BandWavelengthTelescope
Optical
B
451 nmMPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope
WFI
Optical
V
539 nmMPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope
WFI
Optical
Rc
651 nmMPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope
WFI
Optical
SII
MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope
WFI