The relatively unkown molecular cloud in Ara in the far southern sky is full of interest, and has a passing likeness to the Horsehead nebula in Orion. As in Orion, dusty gas and starlight interact to produce vivid reds and gentle blues, as the light from the bright stars at the top of the picture erodes the edge of a molecular cloud that runs across the image. The nebula and its bright stars are about 4000 light years distant. The whole scene is set against a curtain of faint stars that are more distant than the dust and this image covers about 40 arc minutes from side to side.

This image combines the light from three plates taken in red, green and blue light.