Lupus 3 Star-forming Region: Infrared & Visible Light Views | ESO

Lupus 3 Star-forming Region: Infrared & Visible Light Views | ESO

The infrared observations underlying this image reveal new details in the star-forming regions that are usually obscured by the clouds of dust. This image shows stars and clouds of gas and dust distributed over a dark background. A prominent cloud of gas and dust can be seen in the central part of the image. It features an amorphous and elongated cloud in a red and brown hue. A dozen stars in blue, red and yellow colors shine more clearly than the other stars that are distributed uniformly in the image. The image was produced with data collected by the VIRCAM instrument, which is attached to the VISTA telescope at the European Southern Observatory’s Paranal Observatory in Chile.

A dark cloud of cosmic dust snakes across this spectacular image, illuminated by the brilliant light of new stars. This image was created from images taken using the European Southern Observatory’s VLT Survey Telescope and the MPG/ESO 2.2-meter telescope. 

These visible light and infrared images show the star-forming region Lupus 3. This dense cloud is where dazzlingly hot stars are born from collapsing masses of gas and dust.

Distance: 600 light years

Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO)/Meingast et al.

Release Date: May 11, 2023

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