Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex

Image Description and Details : In order to image the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex, we decided to create a two-panel mosaic, so as to have a good resolution and be able to walk around the image.

The Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex is a complex of interstellar clouds with mainly dark nebulae.

At a distance of around 450 light-years, it is one of the solar system's closest star nurseries.

Rho Ophiuchi is the star system in the blue area on the left of the image. With a surface temperature of over 6,500K (making them more than 160 times brighter than the Sun), these stars reflect their light onto the dark clouds around them.

Some structures appear to be the result of a shockwave passing through the cloud from the direction of the nearby Scorpius-Centaurus association.

Dust and gas that makes the star system appear 1.45 magnitudes dimmer than it really is. Without the interstellar extinction, Rho Ophiuchi would shine at magnitude 3.18.

We can also find two globular clusters: M4 (the largest) and NGC 6144 (the smallest).

This area of the sky is known for its wide range of colors, making it a very photogenic zone.

Copyright: Team Atlaskies