March 2025 - Picture of the Month
Open cluster RCW 38 in Vela
RCW 38 lies about 5,500 light-years away in the direction of Vela. It comprises a large and young open star cluster embedded within a nebula of dust and gas from which it formed, probably less than a million years ago. There are thousands of stars in this cluster, of which about 20 are huge O-type stars destined to become supernovae, and most of them are hidden within the nebula.
I'm guessing that you've probably spotted that this isn't an amateur image, but I have my reasons.
The European Southern Observatory (ESO) have captured a visible light image of RCW 38 in the past, but I've chosen this one because it was release last month and, most importantly, it's in the infrared so we can see far more stars in this wide field of view. If you'd like to compare the visible and infrared view then ESO have a fantastic slider on their website.
Of course if it's the stars of RCW 38 itself that you're particularly interested in seeing, then ESO pointed another of their instruments, the HAWK-I camera, at this target for a close look a few years ago.
So I've really got two Pictures of the Month and both are in the infrared spectrum, which is outside of the amateur sphere, at least I think that it is.
James Whinfrey - Website Administrator.
