Flemming H. Kristensen
M42 - The Orion Nebula
The Orion Nebula, also known as M42, or Messier 42. It is found in the lower part of the constellation Orion as part of the sword hanging from his belt. Even in a small pair of binoculars it is a beautiful sight, though the colors are too faint to be seen by human eyes.
M42 itself is the largest part at center stage, and the smaller pink bubble on its back is known as M43. At the top of the image is NGC 1977 nicknamed Running Man (see if you can spot him). The red light is emitted by atomic hydrogen, and the bluish and grey areas are mostly dusty regions scattering and reflecting the light from young hot blue stars. This region of space is a mix of newly formed stars and dark, dense clouds where star formation is an ongoing process. In a couple of hundred million years the remaining gas and dust will have been blown away into interstellar space, and a cluster of thousands of stars will be sparkling in the sky.
M42 - The Orion Nebula
The Orion Nebula, also known as M42, or Messier 42. It is found in the lower part of the constellation Orion as part of the sword hanging from his belt. Even in a small pair of binoculars it is a beautiful sight, though the colors are too faint to be seen by human eyes.
M42 itself is the largest part at center stage, and the smaller pink bubble on its back is known as M43. At the top of the image is NGC 1977 nicknamed Running Man (see if you can spot him). The red light is emitted by atomic hydrogen, and the bluish and grey areas are mostly dusty regions scattering and reflecting the light from young hot blue stars. This region of space is a mix of newly formed stars and dark, dense clouds where star formation is an ongoing process. In a couple of hundred million years the remaining gas and dust will have been blown away into interstellar space, and a cluster of thousands of stars will be sparkling in the sky.