Explanation:
The Chameleon is a small constellation near the
south celestial pole.
Boasting no bright
stars, it
blends inconspicuously with the starry
southern sky.
But, taken in dark skies over Namibia, this image reveals a stunning
aspect of the shy constellation -- a field of dusty nebulae and colorful
stars.
Blue reflection nebulae are scattered
through the scene, but most
eye-catching is the complex of silvery dust clouds that only faintly
reflect
starlight, punctuated by dense dark nebulae.
The dark nebulae stand out because they block out background stars.
This view of the cosmic dust clouds spans
about 4 degrees on the sky.
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