In this video from the European Southern Observatory (ESO), zoom into a region of active star formation in the constellation Scorpius. The final frames of this video shows VISTA telescope’s infrared view of NGC 6357 – also known as the Lobster Nebula – about 8000 light-years away. NGC 6357 is a region filled with vast clouds of gas and tendrils of dark dust. These clouds are forming stars, including massive hot stars which glow a brilliant blue-white in visible light.
These images were taken as part of a VISTA survey that is currently scanning the Milky Way in a bid to map our galaxy’s structure and explain how it formed.
Like what you read?
Subscribe and receive daily news delivered to your inbox.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
More from
Chris Comfort
View All
Rock towers and Milky Way
June 13, 2013
Conjuring an orb of light on the rim of Black Canyon
June 6, 2013
Lenticular clouds in the water and sky
June 4, 2013
Milky Way over Joshua Tree National Park
May 11, 2013