Unraveling the Mysteries of Lupus 3: Stellar Formation and the Enchanting Reflection Nebula Bernes 149

The stunning Lupus 3, a vast star-forming interstellar cloud, has been captured in a 570-megapixel image using the US Department of Energy's Dark Energy Camera at the National Science Foundation's NOIRLab's Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile. The dazzling core of this expansive cloud showcases a duo of newborn stars emerging from their natal cocoons of dust and gas, illuminating the reflection nebula known as Bernes 149. These contrasting regions make Lupus 3 an ideal subject for star formation research. Located approximately 500 light-years from Earth, this star-forming nebula lies within the constellation Lupus (the Wolf).

Energy Clashes in Space: Birth of Reflection Nebulae*

Similar to Earth's striking phenomena such as glowing auroras and powerful lightning, space also has its share of spectacular occurrences. Energy from brilliant young stars and protostars floods their surroundings, lighting up immense interstellar clouds of dust and gas, resulting in stunning reflection nebulae.

HR 5999 and HR 6000: Illuminating the Bernes 149 Nebula

Within the heart of the vast Lupus 3 nebula, two blue stars, HR 5999 and HR 6000, shine brightly. They illuminate nearby gas and dust, creating the vivid blue reflection nebula Bernes 149. These stars originate from the dark nebula Lupus 3, which blankets the backdrop of stars. However, this cloud is more than just a pitch-black cosmic mass; it houses a multitude of infant T Tauri stars that will eventually develop into full-fledged stars using Lupus 3's material.

The Pre-Main-Sequence Stars of Lupus 3

A mere 1 million years old, HR 5999 and HR 6000 are the eldest stars in the Lupus 3 region. These pre-main-sequence stars, though bright, are not yet powered by nuclear fusion like our Sun. Instead, they derive their energy from gravity, which compresses and heats their internal matter. These sibling stars have dispersed nearby gas and dust, illuminating the remnants and forming the Bernes 149 reflection nebula.

The Massive Lupus Cloud Complex

Lupus 3 is one of at least nine clouds within the vast Lupus cloud complex. Stretching across an area of the sky equivalent to about 24 Moon-diameters from Earth's perspective, Lupus 3 is immense. With an impressive 2.2-degree field of view, the Dark Energy Camera (DECcam) can capture colossal objects like Lupus 3 in a single image.

*Credit: CTIO/NOIRLab/DOE/NSF/AURA/ T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF’s NOIRLab)*