The L1688 region in visible and infrared light

Drag the slider to compare two different views of the L1688 star-forming region in the Ophiuchus constellation. The visible-light image was taken from ESO’s Paranal Observatory with an amateur telescope, and shows dark clouds of dust and bright young stars. The infrared image, obtained with ESO’s VISTA telescope also at Paranal, allows us to see through the dust, revealing hidden objects.

Credit

ESO/Meingast et al./S. Guisard