Celestial Art: Star Cluster RCW 38 (Infrared View) | ESO

Celestial Art: Star Cluster RCW 38 (Infrared View) | ESO

Observations with the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope show the star cluster RCW 38 in all its glory. This image was taken during testing of the HAWK-I camera with the GRAAL adaptive optics system. It shows the cluster and its surrounding clouds of brightly glowing gas in exquisite detail, with dark tendrils of dust threading through the bright core of this young gathering of stars.

Distance: about 5,500 light years

Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO)/K. Muzic

Release Date: July 11, 2018

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