Adrift 1,500 light-years away in one of the night sky's [
http://antwrp.gsfc.…] most recognizable constellations [
http://starchild.gs…88constellations.htm l ], the glowing Orion Nebula [
http://antwrp.gsfc.…] and the dark Horsehead Nebula [
http://antwrp.gsfc.…] are contrasting cosmic vistas. They both appear in this stunning composite digital image assembled from over 20 hours of data that includes exposures filtered to record emission from hydrogen atoms [
http://antwrp.gsfc.…]. The view reveals extensive nebulosities [
http://antwrp.gsfc.…] associated with the giant Orion Molecular Cloud complex [
http://www.seds.org…], itself hundreds of light-years across. The magnificent emission region, the Orion Nebula [
http://www.seds.org…] (aka M42), lies at the upper right of the picture. Immediately to its left are a cluster of of prominent bluish reflection nebulae [
http://antwrp.gsfc.…] sometimes called the Running Man. The Horsehead [
http://www.seds.org…] nebula appears as a dark cloud, a small silhouette notched against the long red glow at the lower left. Alnitak [
http://www.gb.nrao.…belt.html ] is the easternmost star in Orion's belt and is seen as the brightest star to the left of the Horsehead. Below Alnitak is the Flame Nebula [
http://antwrp.gsfc.…], with clouds of bright emission and dramatic dark dust lanes. Fainter tendrils of glowing hydrogen gas are easily traced throughout the region in this Orion deep field [
http://www.robgendl…].
Explanation
Adrift 1,500 light-years away in one of the night sky's [
http://antwrp.gsfc.…] most recognizable constellations [
http://starchild.gs…88constellations.htm l ], the glowing Orion Nebula [
http://antwrp.gsfc.…] and the dark Horsehead Nebula [
http://antwrp.gsfc.…] are contrasting cosmic vistas. They both appear in this stunning composite digital image assembled from over 20 hours of data that includes exposures filtered to record emission from hydrogen atoms [
http://antwrp.gsfc.…]. The view reveals extensive nebulosities [
http://antwrp.gsfc.…] associated with the giant Orion Molecular Cloud complex [
http://www.seds.org…], itself hundreds of light-years across. The magnificent emission region, the Orion Nebula [
http://www.seds.org…] (aka M42), lies at the upper right of the picture. Immediately to its left are a cluster of of prominent bluish reflection nebulae [
http://antwrp.gsfc.…] sometimes called the Running Man. The Horsehead [
http://www.seds.org…] nebula appears as a dark cloud, a small silhouette notched against the long red glow at the lower left. Alnitak [
http://www.gb.nrao.…belt.html ] is the easternmost star in Orion's belt and is seen as the brightest star to the left of the Horsehead. Below Alnitak is the Flame Nebula [
http://antwrp.gsfc.…], with clouds of bright emission and dramatic dark dust lanes. Fainter tendrils of glowing hydrogen gas are easily traced throughout the region in this Orion deep field [
http://www.robgendl…].
Explanation
