APOD: 2009 November 13 - Young Stars in the Rho Ophiuchi Cloud (original) (raw)

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2009 November 13

Explanation: Cosmic dust clouds and embedded newborn stars glow at infrared wavelengthsin this tantalizing false-color view from theSpitzer Space Telescope.Pictured isof one of the closest star forming regions, part of the Rho Ophiuchicloud complex some 400 light-years distant near the southern edge of thepronounceableconstellationOphiuchus. The view spans about 5 light-years at that estimated distance. After forming along alarge cloud of cold molecular hydrogen gas, newborn stars heat the surrounding dust to produce the infrared glow. An explorationof the region in penetrating infrared light has detected some 300 emerging and newly formed stars whose average age is estimated to be a mere 300,000 years -- extremely young compared to theSun's ageof 5 billion years.