Chamaeleon I Dark Cloud: Closest Star-forming Region to Earth | Hubble

Chamaeleon I Dark Cloud: Closest Star-forming Region to Earth | Hubble

The ominous Chamaeleon I dark cloud, the nearest star-forming region to Earth, is captured in this Hubble Space Telescope image. Chamaeleon I is one portion of the larger Chamaeleon Complex and is home to three reflection nebulae that are brightly illuminated by nearby newly formed stars. The stellar population is between 200–300 and the average star age is around 2 million years.

Chamaeleon I is located about 520 light years from Earth.

Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA
Image Processing: Judy Schmidt
Release Date: Jan. 20, 2017

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