Star cluster RCW 38

The dense star cluster RCW 38 glistens about 5,500 light years away in the direction of the constellation Vela (the Sails). RCW 38 is an "embedded" cluster, in that the nascent cloud of dust and gas still envelops its stars. There, young, titanic stars bombard fledgling suns and planets with powerful winds and large amount of light, helped in their devastating task by short-lived, massive stars that explode as supernovae. In some cases, this energetic onslaught cooks away the matter that may eventually form new planetary systems. Scientists think that our own Solar System emerged from such a dramatic environment.

This image was obtained with the Wide Field Imager instrument on the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope at La Silla, using data collected through four filters (B, V, R and H-alpha). The field of view is about 10 arcminutes.

Källa:

ESO

Om bilden

ID:eso0929b
Typ:Observation
Publiceringsdatum:19 augusti 2009
Relaterade pressmeddelanden:eso0929
Storlek:2946 x 2944 px

Om objektet

Namn:RCW 38
Typ:Milky Way : Star : Grouping : Cluster
Avstånd:5500 ljusår
Constellation:Vela
Kategori:Star Clusters

Bildformat

Stor jpeg
1,5 MB
Skärmstor jpeg
233,2 kB

Zoombar


Skrivbordsunderlägg

1024x768
245,9 kB
1280x1024
369,9 kB
1600x1200
488,3 kB
1920x1200
539,1 kB
2048x1536
699,0 kB

Koordinater

Position (RA):8 59 7.92
Position (Dec):-47° 31' 45.78"
Field of view:11.68 x 11.67 arcminutes
Orientering:Nord är 1.6° höger om lodrätt

Färger och filter

BandTeleskop
Synligt ljus
B
MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope
WFI
Synligt ljus
Pseudogreen (B+R)
MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope
WFI
Synligt ljus
H-alpha
MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope
WFI
Synligt ljus
R
MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope
WFI