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Collection:
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NASA Spitzer Space Telescope Collection
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Title:
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The Infrared Hunter
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Description:
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This image composite compares infrared and visible views of the famous Orion nebula and its surrounding cloud, an industrious star-making region located near the hunter constellation's sword. The infrared picture is from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, and the visible image is from the National Optical Astronomy Observatory, headquartered in Tucson, Ariz. In addition to Orion, two other nebulas can be seen in both pictures. The Orion nebula, or M42, is the largest and takes up the lower half of the images; the small nebula to the upper left of Orion is called M43; and the medium-sized nebula at the top is NGC 1977. Each nebula is marked by a ring of dust that stands out in the infrared view. These rings make up the walls of cavities that are being excavated by radiation and winds from massive stars. The visible view of the nebulas shows gas heated by ultraviolet radiation from the massive stars. Above the Orion nebula, where the massive stars have not yet ejected much of the obscuring dust, the visible image appears dark with only a faint glow. In contrast, the infrared view penetrates the dark lanes of dust, revealing bright swirling clouds and numerous developing stars that have shot out jets of gas (green). This is because infrared light can travel through dust, whereas visible light is stopped short by it. The infrared image shows light captured by Spitzer's infrared array camera. Light with wavelengths of 8 and 5.8 microns (red and orange) comes mainly from dust that has been heated by starlight. Light of 4.5 microns (green) shows hot gas and dust; and light of 3.6 microns (blue) is from starlight.
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Release Date:
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2006/08/14
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Press Release:
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NASA's Spitzer Digs Up Troves of Possible Solar Systems in Orion [ http://www.spitzer.…]
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Release Credit:
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Spitzer: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ T. Megeath (University of Toledo); Visible: NOAO/AURA/NSF/A. Block/R. Steinberg
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Image Credit:
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NASA/JPL-Caltech/T. Megeath (University of Toledo)
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Image Credit:
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NOAO/AURA/NSF/A. Block/R. Steinberg
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Object type:
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Nebula, Star-Forming Region
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Position (J2000):
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*RA: *05h35m14.10s *Dec: *-5d22m23.00s
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Wavelength:
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3.6, 4.5, 5.8 and 8.0 microns
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Wavelength:
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visible light
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Image scale:
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0.77 x 1.44 deg
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Observers:
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Tom Megeath (University of Toledo) Rob Gutermuth (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory) Joe Hora (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory) Lori Allen (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory) Kevin Flaherty (Steward Observatory) John Stauffer (SSC) Lee Hartmann (University of Michigan) James Muzerolle (Steward Observatory) Phil Myers (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory) Nick Siegler (Steward Observatory) Erick Young (Steward Observatory) Giovanni Fazio (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory)
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Instrument:
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IRAC
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Instrument:
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NOAO
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Exposure Date:
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February 16 and 18, 2004, March 9, 2004, October 8, 12, and 27, 2004
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Exposure Time:
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41.6 seconds per position
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Orientation:
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North is up
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note:
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*Full-resolution IRAC image* Screen-Resolution (242x450): JPEG [ http://ipac.jpl.nas…ssc2006-16a1_small.j pg ] High-Resolution (3220x6000): JPEG | Mac TIFF | PC TIFF Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/T. Megeath (University of Toledo)
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note:
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*Visible-light comparison image* Screen-Resolution (242x450): JPEG [ http://ipac.jpl.nas…ssc2006-16c1_small.j pg ] High-Resolution (3220x6000): JPEG | Mac TIFF | PC TIFF Credit: NOAO/AURA/NSF/A. Block/R. Steinberg
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facet_what:
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Spitzer Space Telescope
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facet_what:
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Visible Light
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facet_what:
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Orion
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facet_what:
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Aura
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facet_what:
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Infrared Array Camera (IRAC)
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facet_where:
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Michigan
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facet_where:
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Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
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facet_where:
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Washington, D.C.
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facet_where:
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Stennis Space Center (SSC)
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facet_when:
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March 9, 2004
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facet_when_year:
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2004
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Image #:
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ssc2006-16c
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original url:
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http://sscws1.ipac.…
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UID:
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SPD-SPITZ-ssc2006-16 c
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Image ID:
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168844
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Resolution Size:
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6
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Format:
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JP2
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Media Type:
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Image
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File Name:
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ssc2006-16c1_mac.jp2
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Width:
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3220
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Height:
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6000
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