IC 2631, Ced 110, Ced 111 - Part of the Molecular Cloud Chameleon I

This image shows a part of Chamaeleon I, a nearby region of low mass star formation, located at a distance of 500 light years from Earth. The entire cloud covers an area of 5 square degrees and is one of the closest regions of star formation. IC 2631 reflection nebula is the brightest part of the Chameleon molecular cloud. The star responsible for the lighting of the gas in the direction of IC 2631 is a young star HD 97300, a T Tauri star with infrared excesses, to the point that it also has the initials Ced 112 IRS 3. This star is a member of Chamaeleon T1, a group of T Tauri stars physically tied to the Chamaeleon I cloud, in which it has been formed. Cederblad 111 is a blue reflection nebula, also embedded in Chamaeleon I. The image shows also two deeply red Herbig-Haro objects: HH 49 and HH 50. These small patches of nebulosity are associated with newly born stars. They are formed when gas jets ejected by young stars collide with nearby gas and dust clouds. The yellowish nebula GN 11.07.3 is unusual because it has no obvious illuminating star. Its spectral energy distribution rises rapidly towards the infrared part of spectrum. Parts of the cloud that are not illuminated by nearby stars appear as dark nebulae. Most of them are described and cataloged by Aage Sandqvist in his 1977 catalogue of dark nebulae.

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