The RCW 38 cluster in visible light

This image covers a small section of the night sky centred around the star cluster RCW 38. The sky in this image is mostly black with dark red tones. The entire image is covered by countless stars, most of them tiny, while a couple are seen as larger orange or blue-white lights. At the centre are the clouds of RCW 38, here seen in a bright deep-red colour. Other darker clouds create chaotic shapes across the image.

This image shows the RCW 38 stellar cluster in visible light. Dust absorbs most light at these wavelengths, hiding large areas of this cluster from us.

Credit:

ESO/Digitized Sky Survey 2. Acknowledgment: Davide De Martin

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About the Image

Id:eso2503b
Type:Observation
Release date:13 February 2025, 14:00
Related releases:eso2503
Size:10781 x 7390 px

About the Object

Name:RCW 38
Type:Milky Way : Star : Grouping : Cluster
Constellation:Vela
Category:Nebulae

Image Formats

Fullsize Original
105.4 MB checksum
Large JPEG
16.9 MB
Publication TIFF 10K
95.0 MB
Publication TIFF 4K
20.2 MB
Publication JPEG
3.3 MB
Screensize JPEG
296.3 KB

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Coordinates

Position (RA):8 59 6.68
Position (Dec):-47° 29' 56.68"
Field of view:61.09 x 41.87 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 40.5° left of vertical
View in WorldWide Telescope:
View in WorldWide Telescope

Colours & filters

BandTelescope
Optical
B		Digitized Sky Survey 2
Optical
R		Digitized Sky Survey 2
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