HST observations of the very young SMC "blob" N 88A

High-resolution Hubble Space Telescope images have allowed us for the first time to resolve the compact SMC ionized "blob" N88A (diameter similar to 3 ." 5 or 1 pc). This very young H II region, which is hatching from its nata l molecular cloud, is heavily affected by absorbing dust associated with th e cloud. The interstellar reddening towards N 88A is on average A(V) simila r to 1.5 mag and strikingly rises to more than 3.5 mag in a narrow dust ban d crossing the core of the H Ir region. Such a high extinction is unprecede nted for an H II region in the metal-poor SMC. We present the photometry of some 60 stars lying towards the OB association at the center of which lies N 88A. The exciting star(s) of N 88A is not detected, due to the heavy ext inction. The chronology of star formation is discussed for the whole region .