Astronomers at ESO’s VLT Surveying Telescope have unveiled captivating images of two lesser-known nebulae: Gum 10 and Gum 11.

“What shapes do you perceive? Could it be a chicken searching for seeds, a dragon’s head, or something entirely different?” queried ESO astronomers in a statement.

“These fascinating cloud formations, creating intriguing pareidolia, belong to the nebulae known as Gum 10 and Gum 11—vast collections of interstellar dust and gas.”

“Primarily observable from the Southern Hemisphere, these nebulae are part of a larger complex where stars are born.”

Located approximately 10,760 light-years away in the constellation Leo, Gum 10 is also referred to as RCW 19, spanning around 155 light-years in diameter.

Gum 11, also known as NGC 2579, is about 4,000 light-years away within the same southern constellation.

“Gum 10 appears as the brightest cloud dominating most of the image,” said the astronomers.

“In contrast, Gum 11 is a fainter, more isolated cloud located in the lower left section of the image.”

The mesmerizing images of these nebulae were captured by the VLT Surveying Telescope (VST), commemorating its 15th anniversary of First Light.

“The vibrant glow of these nebulae arises from unique interactions between hydrogen and the hot, massive stars within these regions,” the researchers explained.

“These stars emit ultraviolet light, possessing enough energy to strip electrons from atoms, ultimately forming ions.”

“Recombination of these electrons with hydrogen ions results in the distinctive red light emission observed in the images.”

“The dark lines seen in the nebula are caused by dust obstructing light from distant stars.”