In the Center of the Trapezium
Credit & Copyright: J. Bally, D. Devine, & R. Sutherland, D. Johnson
(CITA),
HST,
NASA
Explanation:
Start with the
constellation of
Orion.
Near
Orion's belt is a fuzzy area known as the
Great Nebula of Orion or
M42.
In
this nebula is a bright
star cluster known as the
Trapezium, shown above.
New stellar systems are forming there in gigantic globs of gas and
dust known as
Proplyds.
Looking closely at the above picture also reveals
that gas and dust surrounding some of the
dimmer stars
appears to form structures that point away from the
brighter stars.
The
above false color image was made by combining
several exposures from the orbiting
Hubble Space
Telescope.
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.