T-Tauri Stars in Lupus 3 Dark Cloud Revealed

Astronomical images highlight the Lupus 3 dark molecular cloud about 500 light-years away, showing young T-Tauri stars, dense dust filaments, and a reflection nebula created by two hot young stars. A 2006 study identified two age groups of T-Tauri stars in Lupus 3, near 1 million years and between 5 and 27 million years old.

The Hubble Mission Team has been sharing images focused on star formation, and recent material highlights the Lupus 3 region about 500 light-years from Earth. Lupus 3 is a dark molecular cloud in the larger Lupus Cloud Complex that blocks visible light in places. The region contains both bright young stars that have emerged from their gas and stars still embedded in dust. Different wavelengths reveal different structures, and ground-based images accentuate details the Hubble view does not show. Key observations: - Lupus 3 is a dark molecular cloud roughly 500 light-years away and is part of the Lupus Cloud Complex. - The region hosts young stellar objects including bright T-Tauri stars and dense dust filaments that cause high extinction. - A pair of hot young stars, HR 5999 and HR 6000, illuminate a blue reflection nebula named Bernes 149 (image credit: ESO/R. Colombari); the published image is credited to the VLT Survey Telescope and the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope. - A 2006 study reported two spatially separated T-Tauri populations in Lupus 3: a younger group near 1 million years old concentrated in the dark filament, and an older group ranging from about 5 to 27 million years. - Lupus 3 contains many star-formation features reported in the literature, including pre-stellar cores, jets, circumstellar disks, Herbig-Haro objects, and Herbig Ae/Be stars. Summary: The images underscore Lupus 3 as an active, nearby site of low-mass star formation, with T-Tauri stars, dense dust structures, and young, hot stars lighting a reflection nebula. Undetermined at this time.