The Orion Nebula
This is one of the nearest regions of very recent star formation (300, 000 years ago). The nebula is a giant gas cloud illuminated by the brightest of the young hot stars at the top of the picture. Many of the fainter young stars are surrounded by disks of dust and gas that are slightly more than twice the diameter of the Solar System.
Credit:About the Image
About the Object
| Name: | M 42, Messier 42, NGC 1976, Orion Nebula |
|---|---|
| Type: | Milky Way : Nebula : Type : Star Formation |
| Distance: | 1400 light years |
| Constellation: | Orion |
| Category: | Nebulae |
Wallpapers
Coordinates
| Position (RA): | 5 35 18.39 |
|---|---|
| Position (Dec): | -5° 24' 19.67" |
| Field of view: | 2.48 x 2.49 arcminutes |
| Orientation: | North is 75.4° right of vertical |
View in ESASky:
View in WorldWide Telescope:
Colours & filters
| Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
|---|---|---|
| Optical OIII | 502 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
WFPC2 |
| Optical H-alpha | 656 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
WFPC2 |
| Optical NII | 658 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
WFPC2 |