The location of the reflection nebula IC 2631 in the constellation of Chameleon
The sky around reflection nebula IC 2631
Videos
Zooming in on the young star in the reflection nebula IC 2631
A newly formed star lights up the
surrounding cosmic clouds in this new image from ESO’s La Silla
Observatory in Chile. Dust particles in the vast clouds that surround
the star HD 97300 diffuse its light, like a car headlight in enveloping
fog, and create the reflection nebula IC 2631. Although HD 97300 is in
the spotlight for now, the very dust that makes it so hard to miss
heralds the birth of additional, potentially scene-stealing, future
stars.
The glowing region in this new image from the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope is a reflection nebula
known as IC 2631. These objects are clouds of cosmic dust that reflect
light from a nearby star into space, creating a stunning light show like
the one captured here. IC 2631 is the brightest nebula in the Chamaeleon Complex,
a large region of gas and dust clouds that harbours numerous newborn
and still-forming stars. The complex lies about 500 light-years away in
the southern constellation of Chamaeleon.
IC 2631 is illuminated by the star HD 97300,
one of the youngest — as well as most massive and brightest — stars in
its neighbourhood. This region is full of star-making material, which is
made evident by the presence of dark nebulae
noticeable above and below IC 2631 in this picture. Dark nebulae are so
dense with gas and dust that they prevent the passage of background
starlight.
Despite its dominating presence, the heft of HD 97300 should be kept in perspective. It is a T Tauri
star, the youngest visible stage for relatively small stars. As these
stars mature and reach adulthood they will lose mass and shrink. But
during the T Tauri phase these stars have not yet contracted to the more
modest size that they will maintain for billions of years as main sequence stars.
These fledging stars already have surface temperatures similar to
their main sequence phase and accordingly, because T Tauri-phase objects
are essentially jumbo versions of their later selves, they look
brighter in their oversized youth than in maturity. They have not yet
started to fuse hydrogen into helium in their cores, like normal main
sequence stars, but are just starting to flex their thermal muscles by
generating heat from contraction.
Reflection nebula, like the one spawned by HD 97300, merely scatter
starlight back out into space. Starlight that is more energetic, such as
the ultraviolet radiation pouring forth from very hot new stars, can
ionise nearby gas, making it emit light of its own. These emission nebulae
indicate the presence of hotter and more powerful stars, which in their
maturity can be observed across thousands of light-years. HD 97300 is
not so powerful, and its moment in the spotlight is destined not to
last.
More Information
ESO is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe
and the world’s most productive ground-based astronomical observatory by
far. It is supported by 16 countries: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, the
Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, the
Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United
Kingdom, along with the host state of Chile. ESO carries out an
ambitious programme focused on the design, construction and operation of
powerful ground-based observing facilities enabling astronomers to make
important scientific discoveries. ESO also plays a leading role in
promoting and organising cooperation in astronomical research. ESO
operates three unique world-class observing sites in Chile: La Silla,
Paranal and Chajnantor. At Paranal, ESO operates the Very Large
Telescope, the world’s most advanced visible-light astronomical
observatory and two survey telescopes. VISTA works in the infrared and
is the world’s largest survey telescope and the VLT Survey Telescope is
the largest telescope designed to exclusively survey the skies in
visible light. ESO is a major partner in ALMA, the largest astronomical
project in existence. And on Cerro Armazones, close to Paranal, ESO is
building the 39-metre European Extremely Large Telescope, the E-ELT,
which will become “the world’s biggest eye on the sky”.
Links
- Images of the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope at La Silla
- Photos taken with the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope at La Silla
Contacts
Richard Hook
ESO Public Information Officer
Garching bei München, Germany
Tel: +49 89 3200 6655
Cell: +49 151 1537 3591
Email: rhook@eso.org
ESO Public Information Officer
Garching bei München, Germany
Tel: +49 89 3200 6655
Cell: +49 151 1537 3591
Email: rhook@eso.org
Source: ESO
