IC 348

IC 348 (also known as LBN 758) is a 2 million year old open star cluster of roughly 400 stars surrounded by the reflection nebula vdB 19 (also known as Cederblad 20). It was in this star cluster that scientists discovered 3 low mass brown dwarfs (smaller than Jupiter) in 2009, indicative of the young age of the group. The light is scattered by clouds of dust bordering the reflection nebula It is found in the OB2 Molecular Cloud in the constellation of Perseus approx. 1,000 light-years from Earth.

Below the star cluster is a dark cloud of dust (Barnard 4), which extends off to the right into the reddish area of the image. The large reddish nebula that glows behind the dust is known as LDN 1470.

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