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> The Great Nebula in Orion

The Great Nebula in Orion

author: Anglo-Australian Observatory/David Malin Images/Novapix

reference: a-neb19-76004

Image Size 300 DPI: 45 * 57 cm

To the eye, the nebula appears as a misty patch around the central star of the line of three which form Orion's sword. Binoculars or a modest telescope will show that these three 'stars' are loose groups of several individuals some of which can be seen in this photograph. The central group of stars, the Trapezium cluster is hidden in the glow of the Orion Nebula in this photograph, but these stars are responsible for producing the nebula. It is the high concentration of dust and gas in this part of the sky which has resulted in the formation of the stars, so the Orion nebula is no random association of bright stars and dusty gas. At a distance of 1500 light years, the Orion nebula is the nearest star-forming region to the Sun.

Keywords for this photo:

AAO - ASTRONOMY - DIFFUSE NEBULA - EMISSION NEBULA - M42 - M43 - NEBULA - NGC 1973 - NGC 1975 - NGC 1976 - NGC 1977 - NGC 1982 - ORION - POSTER - REFLECTION NEBULA - SIDING SPRING - STAR - STAR FORMATION - YOUNG STAR -