Infrared Horsehead
Explanation:
This famous
cosmic dust cloud was
imaged in infrared light by the European Space Agency's
Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) satellite.
The false-color picture
shows the bright
infrared emission
from dust and molecular gas in part of
the Orion star forming region
surrounding
the
Horsehead Nebula.
In visible light,
the horsehead-shaped dust cloud looks
dark against a background of bright glowing gas.
But in this image, the interstellar infrared glow engulfs
much of the horse's head.
Just above and to the right of center, only the top remains crowned
by a bright,
newborn star.
The very bright object at the lower left is the reflection nebula
NGC 2023, a dense concentration of interstellar gas and
dust grains
also associated with newly formed stars.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
