The sky field shown measures approx.
North is up and East is left.
The R Coronae Australis complex of young stars and interstellar gas clouds is one of the nearest star-forming regions, at a distance of approx. 500 light-years from the Sun. The field shown measures about 4.7 x 4.7 light-years 2 . It displays the central part of the complex, its brightest stars, and the nebulosity that they illuminate. This effect is particularly noticeable in the lower left corner where very few stars are seen.