The Flame Nebula (NGC 2024)
auteur: D.De Martin/Novapix
référence: a-nec04-26100
Image Size 300 DPI: 32 * 27 cm
This is a colourful image of Alnitak area, in the Orion's Belt. Alnitak, also known as Zeta Orionis (Zeta Ori) is a supergiant star with a brightness 35,000 times greater than the Sun. Its mass is 20 times the solar mass. Its visual magnitude is 2.05. Alnitak excites and heats up the gases in the Flame Nebula (NGC 2024) causing it to glow showing unique and beautiful colours. The dark central area in the Flame Nebula is caused by a lane of
dust in the foreground. Also visible at top right IC 432 and IC 431, two nebulas that bright reflecting Alnitak's light. This image is based on data acquired by the Oschin Telescope at the Mount Palomar Observatory.