The RCW 38 cluster in visible and infrared light

This interactive comparison shows the RCW 38 young stellar cluster in visible (left) and infrared light (right). The visible image is part of the Digitzed Sky Survey 2, whereas the infrared one was captured with ESO's VISTA telescope at Paranal Observatory. Dust absorbs visible light, keeping large areas of the cluster hidden from us. But infrared light can travel through dust more easily, revealing these hidden regions.

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