Rho Ophiuchi Wide Field

Explanation: The clouds surrounding the star system Rho Ophiuchi compose one of the closest star forming regions. Rho Ophiuchi itself is a binary star system visible in the light-colored region on the image right. The star system, located only 400 light years away, is distinguished by its colorful surroundings , which include a red emission nebula and numerous light and dark brown dust lanes. Near the upper right of the Rho Ophiuchi molecular cloud system is the yellow star Antares , while a distant but coincidently-superposed globular cluster of stars, M4 , is visible between Antares and the red emission nebula . Near the image bottom lies IC 4592, the Blue Horsehead nebula . The blue glow that surrounds the Blue Horsehead's eye -- and other stars around the image -- is a reflection nebula composed of fine dust. On the above image left is a geometrically angled reflection nebula cataloged as Sharpless 1 . Here, the bright star near the dust vortex creates the light of surrounding reflection nebula . Although most of these features are visible through a small telescope pointed toward the constellations of Ophiuchus , Scorpius , and Sagittarius , the only way to see the intricate details of the dust swirls, as featured above, is to use a long exposure camera.