The space chameleon shows off its vibrant colors in a new infrared image from the European Southern Observatory (ESO). This glowing region of space commonly known chameleon complex, is a large stellar nursery about 65 light-years in diameter and about 522 light-years from Earth. The Chameleon Cloud, officially known as IC 2631, is the brightest. nebula very active in this star forming region and the focus of the new ESO image.

According to the ESO statement, IC 2631 is classified as: reflection nebulathat is, it consists of dust clouds that reflect the light emitted by nearby stars. His portrait was taken using ESO’s Visible and Infrared Research Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA) and posted online Monday (July 17).

The nebula at the center of the new ESO image is illuminated by a star called HD 97300, one of the youngest, largest and brightest stars in its cosmic orbit. This star is visible in the center of the right field surrounded by purple interstellar clouds. The bright areas of the image represent interstellar gas and dust that fuels young stars still in the process of formation.

The cloud you see here is saturated with star-forming matter: gas and dust,” ESO wrote in a statement. “At optical wavelengths, this region contains dark patches where dust completely blocks light from background sources. But this image was obtained in infrared light, which can pass almost unhindered through the dust, allowing scientists to see the core of this cloud.”

According to the description, despite its name, the IC 2631 is watch in the sky It is found in the southern hemisphere most of the year. Source