Elias 32 and 33 are two very young stars, sometimes called protostars, deeply embedded in the Rho Oph dark cloud. Although invisible in optical wavelengths, the stars may help unlock the mysteries of star formation. Elias 32 and 33 are not terribly close to each other, but they probably formed from the same condensation and may even be companions. Stars often come in pairs, but since our own star has no partner, we do not know much about the formation of paired systems. This image shows a large area of nebulosity around Elias 32 (in the upper right) but only a small arc near Elias 33. Both areas are reflection nebulae glowing from the light of their source. Interestingly, Elias 33ΓÇÖs small nebula is oriented toward
