Orion in miniature
A massive star is illuminating this small region, called M43, and sculpting the landscape of dust and gas. Astronomers call the area a miniature Orion Nebula because of its small size and the single star that is shaping it. The Orion Nebula itself is much larger and has four hefty stars that are carving the dust-and-gas terrain.
Credit:NASA, ESA, M. Robberto ( Space Telescope Science Institute/ESA) and the Hubble Space Telescope Orion Treasury Project Team
About the Image
NASA press release
| Id: | heic0601c |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | 11 January 2006, 16:00 |
| Related releases: | heic0601 |
| Size: | 3939 x 2955 px |
About the Object
| Name: | Messier 42, Messier 43, Orion Nebula |
| Type: | Milky Way : Nebula : Type : Star Formation Milky Way : Nebula : Appearance : Emission : H II Region |
| Distance: | 1400 light years |
| Constellation: | Orion |
| Category: | Nebulae |
Wallpapers
Coordinates
| Position (RA): | 5 35 32.82 |
| Position (Dec): | -5° 16' 2.09" |
| Field of view: | 6.57 x 4.93 arcminutes |
| Orientation: | North is 0.0° left of vertical |
View in ESASky:
View in WorldWide Telescope:
Colours & filters
| Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
|---|---|---|
| Optical B | 435 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
ACS |
| Optical V | 555 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
ACS |
| Optical H-alpha | 658 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
ACS |
| Infrared I | 775 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
ACS |
| Infrared Z | 850 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
ACS |
Notes: Additional observational data from the WFI instrument on the ESO.MPG 2.2-metre telescope.