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ALNITAK of Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) from 2001
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Orion Nebulosities
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Orion Nebulosities |
| Explanation |
Adrift 1,500 light-years away in one of the night sky's most recognizable constellations [ http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/questions/ 88constellations.html ], the glowing Orion Nebula [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap020213.html ] and the dark Horsehead Nebula [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap010426.html ] are contrasting cosmic vistas. They both appear in this stunning composite color photograph along with other nebulosities [ http://casswww.ucsd.edu/public/tutorial/ ISM.html ] as part of the giant Orion Molecular Cloud complex [ http://www.seds.org/messier/more/oricloud.html ], itself hundreds of light-years across. The magnificent Orion Nebula [ http://www.seds.org/billa/twn/n1976x.html ] (aka M42) lies at the bottom of the image. This emission nebula's bright central [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap971118.html ] regions were captured on fast film in a relatively short 30 second exposure. Above M42 [ http://vis.sdsc.edu/research/orion.html ] are a cluster of prominent bluish reflection nebulae [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap010722.html ] and fainter reddish emission nebulae recorded in additional exposures lasting up to 40 minutes. The Horsehead [ http://www.seds.org/billa/twn/b33x.html ] appears as a dark nebula, a small silhouette notched against the long red glow at the upper left. Alnitak [ http://www.gb.nrao.edu/~rmaddale/Education/OrionTourCenter/ belt.html ] is the easternmost star in Orion's belt and is seen as the brightest star above the Horsehead. Immediately to Alnitak's left is the Flame Nebula [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap990713.html ], with clouds of bright emission and dramatic dark dust lanes. The telescopic exposures were made from a site in the Southern French Alps at an altitude of 2,800 meters (a little closer to the stars!) in September of 2001. |
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