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.

Crediti:

ESO

A proposito dell'immagine

Identificazione:eso0929b
Tipo:Osservazione
Data di pubblicazione:19 Agosto 2009
Notizie relative:eso0929
Dimensione:2946 x 2944 px

A proposito delll'oggetto

Nome:RCW 38
Tipo:Milky Way : Star : Grouping : Cluster
Distanza:5500 Anni luce
Constellation:Vela
Categoria:Star Clusters

Formati delle immagini

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Coordinate

Position (RA):8 59 7.92
Position (Dec):-47° 31' 45.78"
Field of view:11.68 x 11.67 arcminutes
Orientazione:Il Nord è a 1.6° a destra della verticale

Colori e filtri

BandaTelescopio
Ottico
B
MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope
WFI
Ottico
Pseudogreen (B+R)
MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope
WFI
Ottico
H-alpha
MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope
WFI
Ottico
R
MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope
WFI