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New observations with the ESO Very Large Telescope show the RCW 38 star cluster in all its splendor. This image was taken when testing the HAWK-I camera with the GRAAL Adaptive Optics System. It shows RCW 38 and its surrounding clouds of brilliantly bright gas in exquisite detail, with dark tendrils of dust slipping through the bright core of this young gathering of stars.
This image shows the RCW 38 star group, captured by the HAWK-I infrared imager mounted on ESO's very large telescope (VLT) in Chile. Looking into infrared wavelengths, HAWK-I can examine dust-protected star clusters like RCW 38, providing an unrivaled view of the stars that form inside. This cluster contains hundreds of young, hot and mbadive stars, and lies about 5500 light-years away in the constellation Vela (The Sails).
The central area of RCW 38 is visible here as a bright, blue region, an area inhabited by many very young stars and protostars that are still forming. The intense radiation coming out of these new stars shines the surrounding gases. This contrasts sharply with the rushes of colder cosmic dust that snake through the region and glow softly in the dark tones of red and orange. Contrast creates this spectacular scene – a work of celestial art
Previous images of this region taken in optical wavelengths are remarkably different – optical images appear more starless at because of the dust and gas blocking our vision of the cluster. However, observations in the infrared allow us to observe the dust that obscures the view in the optics and to dive into the heart of this cluster of stars
HAWK – I is installed on the VLT Unit Telescope 4 (Yepun), and operates at near-infrared wavelengths. He has many scientific roles, including obtaining images of nearby galaxies or large nebulae as well as individual stars and exoplanets. GRAAL is an adaptive optics module that helps HAWK-I produce these spectacular images. It uses four laser beams projected into the night sky, which act as artificial reference stars, used to correct the effects of atmospheric turbulence, providing a sharper image.
This image was captured as part of a series of observations. -a process known as scientific verification-for HAWK-I and GRAAL. These tests are an integral part of the commissioning of a new instrument on the VLT and include a set of standard scientific observations that verify and demonstrate the capabilities of the new instrument.
Learn more:
Image: The hidden secrets of a mbadive star formation region
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