Image ssc2006-16a

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Image Gallery > Astronomical Images > Star Formation > ssc2006-16a

NASA/JPL-Caltech/T. Megeath (University of Toledo)

Orion's Inner Beauty

This infrared image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope shows the Orion nebula, our closest massive star-making factory, 1,450 light-years from Earth. The nebula is close enough to appear to the naked eye as a fuzzy star in the sword of the popular hunter constellation.

The nebula itself is located on the lower half of the image, surrounded by a ring of dust. It formed in a cold cloud of gas and dust and contains about 1,000 young stars. These stars illuminate the cloud, creating the beautiful nebulosity, or swirls of material, seen here in infrared.

This image shows infrared 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.

To download, choose your preferred resolution and file format below. "High-Resolution" files will always be the highest resolution and widest crop available, intended for print. Other resolutions are provided for convenient on-screen viewing.

Screen-Resolution (360x450) : JPEG (28 KB)
Medium-Resolution (720x900) : JPEG (88 KB)
High-Resolution (2400x3000) : JPEG (1.8 MB) | Mac TIFF (4.2 MB) | PC TIFF (4.2 MB)

About the Object (1)
Object type: Nebula
Position (J2000): RA: 05h 35m 15.00s Dec: -5° 22' 23.00"
Distance: 1450 light-years
Constellation: Orion

About the Data

Spitzer Data

Instrument: IRAC
Wavelength: 3.6, 4.5, 5.8 and 8.0 microns
Exposure Date: February 16 and 18, 2004, March 9, 2004, October 8, 12, and 27, 2004
Exposure Time: 41.6 seconds per position
Image scale: 0.77 x 1.44 deg
Orientation: North is up
Release Date: 2006/08/14

Observers

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)

Additional Info

Press Release: NASA's Spitzer Digs Up Troves of Possible Solar Systems in Orion

INDIVIDUAL IMAGES

Full-resolution IRAC image
Screen-Resolution (242x450): JPEG
High-Resolution (3220x6000): JPEG | Mac TIFF | PC TIFF
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/T. Megeath (University of Toledo)

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