New observations in the Very Large Telescope displayed the star cluster RCW 38 in all its glory. The picture was taken during the testing period of the HAWK-I camera with the GRAAL adaptive optical system. It shows the cluster and the surrounding clouds of brightly glowing gas with dark dust.
A new review in the Very Large Telescope showed the star cluster RCW 38 in all its glory. The picture was taken during the testing period of the HAWK-I camera with the GRAAL adaptive optical system. It shows the cluster and the surrounding clouds of brightly glowing gas with dark lush dust.
Looking at the IR waves, you can explore star clusters covered in dust, like RCW 38, providing an unprecedented view of the stars forming inside. In the cluster live hundreds of young, hot and massive stars, distant from us by 5500 light years. The cluster is located on the territory of the constellation Sails.
The central area of RCW 38 is shown here as a blue area, where many young stars and protostars are located, which are still in the formation stage. Strong radiation from newborn stars causes the gas to glow brightly. This contrasts sharply with streams of cooler cosmic dust that glows softly in dark shades of red and orange. The previous images in optical wavelengths are strikingly different because they do not allow sight through dust and penetration into the heart of a star cluster.
HAWK-I is mounted on a Very Large Telescope and operates in the infrared wavelength range. It was used for various scientific studies, including taking pictures of neighboring galaxies or large nebulae, as well as individual stars and exoplanets. GRAAL is an adaptive optics module that helps create these amazing frames. Uses four laser beams projected into the night sky.
