Astronomy Picture of the Day -- M42: Inside the Orion Nebula

NASA ^ | April 08, 2014 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: The Great Nebula in Orion, an immense, nearby starbirth region, is probably the most famous of all astronomical nebulas. Here, glowing gas surrounds hot young stars at the edge of an immense interstellar molecular cloud only 1500 light-years away. In the above deep image composite in assigned colors taken by the Hubble Space Telescope wisps and sheets of dust and gas are particularly evident. The Great Nebula in Orion can be found with the unaided eye near the easily identifiable belt of three stars in the popular constellation Orion. In addition to housing a bright open cluster of stars known as the Trapezium, the Orion Nebula contains many stellar nurseries. These nurseries contain much hydrogen gas, hot young stars, proplyds, and stellar jets spewing material at high speeds. Also known as M42, the Orion Nebula spans about 40 light years and is located in the same spiral arm of our Galaxy as the Sun.

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit: R. Villaverde, Hubble Legacy Archive, NASA]

[SunkenCiv]

This is what happens when a circus clown eats too much at Baskin and Robbins.

The Big One

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[KoRn]

I love looking at this will my lowly binoculars. Just captivating.

[MarineBrat]

Now that the weather is warming up enough for me to schedule some serious star parties, the beautiful Orion arm of the winter Milky Way is in full retreat into the sunset. :( I just love that part of the sky. There’s so many bright stars.

Off the top of my head.... (Pardon my spelling)

Sirius
Betelgeuse
Belatrix
Rigel
Saiph
Alnilam
Alnitak
Mintaka
Castor
Pollux
Regulus
Procyon
Aldebaran (& the Hyades)
Capella

Then there’s the Pleiades. Soooo many bright stars in that part of the sky. I always lament some when my observing switches over towards Leo’s droppings. :)

[TheOldLady]

More Orion Nebula? Who at NASA is having a love affair with Orion?

I will admit, however, that the picture is truly beautiful.

Thank you for the ping.

[cripplecreek]

That reminds me. I stepped on a frog last night in the dark.

[Vinylly]

I really love these astronomy pictures! They are fantastic.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Yes, pure innocent beauty.

[SunkenCiv]

I can’t hold my still enough. :’)

[TigersEye]

Looks like a Van Gogh version of a Georgia O’Keeffe painting.

[Bikkuri]

I see a dragon’s face just off center (up and to the left). Almost perfect too...

[Ditter]

I guess I don’t know what a dragon looks like because I don’t see it. But I do see a feral hog on the right side.

[Bikkuri]

Not the best freehand there.. but you can get the image idea now ;^) the teardrop is it's left eye, looking back our direction.. is facing toward our left shoulder.. small mouth.. some whiskers below the chin.. Winglike shape toward the back of the head.. etc.. :D

[Ditter]

OK Did you see my feral hog?

[Bikkuri]

Lol.. yeah, I think so.. If I consider the 2 smaller round thingies eyes, I can see a crooked snout ;^)

[Ditter]

The 2 round thingies are the nostrils in the snout. The 2 sticking up thingies are the ears, and I think he has his eyes closed. :)

[left that other site]

Absolutely Gorgeous!

[SunkenCiv]

Orion is a favorite of astronomers with Irish ancestry; generally they can be found between viewing sessions resting on patio furniture.

[SunkenCiv]

It’s always tempting when the overcast finally clears here (overcast is part of the joy of living in the region of the Great Lakes) to spring for a modern scope with the computerized guidance and do some viewing. But I’d probably give it the same period of attention as the rowing machine and the treadmill. ;’)

[SunkenCiv]

Hey, my frog never came home last night...