ESO Very Large Telescope Celebrates 15 Years with Spectacular Nebula Image

ESO's Very Large Telescope has been working for 15 years--and now it's celebrating its birthday with a newly released image. The instrument has captured a spectacular stellar nursery that reveals thick clumps of dust silhouetted against the pink glowing gas cloud known to astronomers as IC 2944.

Fifteen years ago, the Very Large Telescope, the world's most advanced optical instrument, first began its operations. Since then, the four original giant telescopes have been joined by the four small Auxiliary Telescopes that form part of the VLT Interferometer (VLTI). The VLT is one of the most powerful and productive ground-based astronomical facilities in existence. In fact, more than 600 scientific papers were based on data from the VLT and VLTI in 2012 alone.

IC 2944 is located about 6,500 light-years away in the southern constellation of Centaurus. Located next to other similar nebulae that are scrutinized by astronomers, the formation is made up of interstellar clouds of dust and gas--the ingredients that stars use to form. The softly glowing pink background you see in the image is actually composed of these clouds of material.

Emission nebulae like the one you see in the image are composed mostly of hydrogen gas that glows in a distinctive shade of red. This particular color is caused by the intense radiation from the many brilliant newborn stars nearby. Clearly revealed against this bright backdrop are the mysterious dark clots of opaque dust--cold clouds called Bok globules. This particular set is nicknamed the Thackeray Globules.

The Thackeray Globules are a bit unusual. Larger Bok globules in quieter locations often collapse to form new stars. The Thackeray Globules, though, are under fierce bombardment from star radiation. This radiation erodes and fragments them over time--rather like lumps of butter being dropped into a frying pan. Because of this, it's very likely that these Bok globules will be destroyed before they can collapse and form stars.

Currently, researchers are continuing to scan the skies to learn more about Bok globules and how stars are born. If you want to see more amazing photographs from the Very Large Telescope, you can check out all of its findings here.