The Orion nebula
author: J.Lodriguss/Novapix
reference: a-neb19-76005
Image Size 300 DPI: 15 * 22 cm
The Orion Nebula complex is easily visible to the unaided eye from a dark location as a patch of brightness surrounding Theta Orionis, the middle star in the sword of Orion the Hunter, the constellation which dominates the winter night sky.Located about 1500 light years away, the nebula glows red predominantly from the light of hydrogen gas excited by energetic newly formed stars in the heart of the nebula. It is the nearest star forming region to our own star, the Sun. NGC 1975, just above M42, is a complex of blue reflection nebulae mixed with dark lanes and a touch of red emission nebulae. The blue color comes from reflected starlight scattered by dust. North is up in this image.
Composite of a 50 minute exposure and a 5 minute exposure on gas-hypersensitized Kodak Ektapress Multispeed PJM-2 color negative film. Taken with an Astro-Physic's 130 EDT refractor at f/8 from Chatsworth NJ, USA on November 12, 1996 at 6:17 UT and 7:00 UT.