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Credit & Copyright: StÈphane Guisard
Explanation:
Do you recognize the belt of Orion in this image?
The familiar trio of stars,
visible to the unaided eye,
can be found across the upper left.
Otherwise, the southern part of the constellation Orion has taken
on a new look in
this unusually deep and wide view
First note that the lower left belt star,
Alnitak,
illuminates the dusty
reflection
nebula known as M78.
Directly below
Alnitak,
a close inspection will reveal the
Horsehead Nebula.
Farther right and below is the Orion Nebula,
M42,
itself visible to the unaided eye.
The brightest star in the frame, near the bottom right, is
Rigel.
A bright blue star, Rigel illuminates the ominously shaped dust patch known as the
Witch Head Nebula, visible as the
blue reflection nebula near the
lower right corner.
Finally, appearing as a vast red ring and encompassing the entire region, is
Barnard's Loop.
Humans
could see this entire menagerie, unaided, were their eyes
about 10,000 times more sensitive.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Orion - Orion Nebula - Witch Head Nebula
Publications with words: Orion - Orion Nebula - Witch Head Nebula
See also:
- APOD: 2024 November 4 Á M42: The Great Nebula in Orion
- Rigel and the Witch Head Nebula
- APOD: 2024 September 10 Á Horsehead and Orion Nebulas
- APOD: 2024 January 31 Á Camera Orion Rising
- APOD: 2024 January 16 Á The Orion You Can Almost See
- Trapezium: At the Heart of Orion
- APOD: 2023 October 10 Á Hidden Orion from Webb