RCW 38 is an HII region containing a massive star cluster located approximately 5,500 light years away from Earth in the direction of the constellation Vela (known as the Sails).

[2] The stars were very recently formed, and are still enshrouded within the dark cloud in which they were born.

When these stars die, likely before the dispersal of the cluster, they will explode as supernovae.

[4] Observations by the Chandra X-ray Observatory have revealed more than 800 X-ray emitting young stellar objects in the cluster.

[5] The star cluster was also observed during testing of the HAWK-I camera, which revealed many details within the cluster that previously were obscured.