http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap110414.html
Young Stars in the Rho Ophiuchi Cloud (Apr 15 2011)
Coming from WISE, the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, dust clouds and newborn stars glow at infrared wavelengths in this false-color photo. This portion of the cosmos contains on of the closest star forming regions, the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex which is about 400 light-years from the constellation Ophiuchus. Once they have formed along a large cloud of cold molecular hydrogen gas, young stars heat the surrounding dust to produce a infrared glow. Stars which are being formed, called young stellar objects or YSOs, are embedded in the condensed pinkish nebulae seen here, but are otherwise hidden from view of optical telescopes. Delving deeper into the region of penetrating infrared light has detected emerging and newly formed stars whose average age is estimated to be a measly 300,000 years. That's relatively young compared to the Sun's age of 5 billion years. The prominent reddish nebula at the lower right surrounding the star Sigma Scorpii is a reflection nebula produced by dust scattering starlight.
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