Stellar Nursery Monoceros R2 (Infrared View) | European Southern Observatory

Stellar Nursery Monoceros R2 (Infrared View) | European Southern Observatory

This dramatic infrared image shows the nearby star formation region Monoceros R2, located some 2,700 light-years away in the constellation of Monoceros (the Unicorn). The picture was created from exposures in the near infrared bands Y, J and Ks taken by the VISTA survey telescope at the European Southern Observatory’s Paranal Observatory. Monoceros R2 is an association of massive hot young stars illuminating a beautiful collection of reflection nebulae, embedded in a large molecular cloud.

Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO)/J. Emerson/VISTA

Acknowledgment: Cambridge Astronomical Survey Unit

Release Date: Oct. 6, 2010

#NASA #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #StellarNursery #MonocerosR2 #Nebula #Monoceros #Constellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #Telescope #VISTASurveyTelescope #ParanalObservatory #Chile #SouthAmerica #Europe #STEM #Education