Chandra Release - October 06, 2008

Visual Description: RCW 108

In this X-ray and infrared image, a region of active star formation known as RCW 108 is shown.   The image features a bright orange and blue nebula filling the field, with numerous small white and blue spots of light gently littered across. The nebula itself appears to be shaped like a wave cresting on its side. RCW 108 is a complicated region that contains young star clusters, including one that is deeply embedded in a cloud of molecular hydrogen. The X-ray data from Chandra is in blue, and infrared emission detected by Spitzer in orange. More than 400 X-ray sources were identified in Chandra's observations of RCW 108. Many of the stars in RCW 108 are experiencing violent flaring. Gas and dust blocks much of the X-rays from the juvenile stars located in the center of the image, explaining a relative dearth of Chandra sources in that part of the image.  The Spitzer data show the location of the embedded star cluster, which appears as a bright knot of red and orange just to the left of the center of the image. Some stars from a larger cluster, known as NGC 6193, are also visible on the left side of the image. Astronomers think that the dense clouds within RCW 108 are in the process of being destroyed by intense radiation emanating from hot and massive stars in NGC 6193.