This image contains a portion of the Perseus Molecular Cloud Complex, which is a massive star-forming region located approximately 1,000 light-years from Earth in the constellation Perseus. Spanning roughly 500 light-years in width, this giant molecular cloud contains over 10,000 solar masses of gas and dust and is one of the most active nearby sites of star formation.

NGC 1333 is the object on the left side of the image and is a highly active, younger cluster (less than 1 million years old) known for harboring many young stellar objects.

IC 348 is the object on the right side : A slightly older cluster (~2 million years old) containing roughly 400 stars, including numerous brown dwarfs. The bright star in this cluster is Atik.

Paducah Skies Observatory is a private observatory SW of Paducah, TX. It sits on 45 acres of native Texas grasslands and mesquite trees. The skies are 21.99 on the light pollution scale (almost Bortle 1).