The RCW 38 Star Cluster in Vela: Infrared view | Paranal Observatory's VISTA

The RCW 38 Star Cluster in Vela: Infrared view | Paranal Observatory's VISTA

This incredibly detailed image shows the star cluster RCW 38. This entire section of the dark sky is covered in stars of all sizes and colors: white, blue, orange or yellow. A nebula occupies most of the image; its shape perhaps resembles a balloon dog, but does not have a clearly defined shape. Inside, the clouds change in density and color, from dark brown to faintly visible purple areas. Part of the cluster is of a bright yellow, adjacent to a red and pink section that could resemble a small lobster. The entire star cluster is similarly covered in stars of all shapes and colours in a truly colorful extravaganza.

This is an 80-million-pixel picture of the star cluster RCW 38, located 5,500 light-years away in the constellation Vela. RCW 38 is a young cluster containing about 2,000 stars, and is bursting with star-forming activity.

The picture was taken with the European Southern Observatory’s Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA), operating in Chile’s Atacama Desert. It shows a mixture of gas, dust and stars, creating an extravagant, yet spectacular landscape. As VISTA observes infrared light, it is able to peer through most of the dust in this region that would block our view when observing in visible light. Behind the dust, VISTA is showing young stars within dusty cocoons and cold ‘failed’ stars known as brown dwarfs, thus revealing the secrets within these young stellar nurseries.

Learn more about VISTA:
https://www.eso.org/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/surveytelescopes/vista/

Credit: ESO/VVVX survey
Release Date: Feb. 13, 2025

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