The Sword of Orion

Ssc2006-16c1
spitzer_ssc2006-16c1 August 14, 2006

Creator: Spitzer Space Telescope, Pasadena, CA, USA

Image Source: http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/images/1658-ssc2006-16c1-The-Sword-of-Orion

This image shows a visible light view of the famous Orion nebula and its surrounding cloud, an industrious star-making region located near the hunter constellation's sword. The image is from the National Optical Astronomy Observatory, headquartered in Tucson, Ariz.

In addition to Orion, two other nebulas can be seen. The Orion nebula, or M42, is the largest and takes up the lower half of the image; the small nebula to the upper left of Orion is called M43; and the medium-sized nebula at the top is NGC 1977.

Above the Orion nebula, where the massive stars have not yet ejected much of the obscuring dust, the visible image appears dark with only a faint glow.

Image Use Policy: http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/info/18-Image-Use-Policy

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Image Details

Image Type
Observation
Object Name
Orion Nebula Messier 42 M42 NGC 1976
Subject - Milky Way
Nebula » Type » Star Formation

Distance

Universescale1
1,450 light years

Position Details

Ssc2006-16c1
Position (ICRS)
RA = 5h 35m 16.3s
DEC = -6° 0’ 51.2”
Orientation
North is 90.0° CW
Field of View
1.4 x 0.8 degrees
Constellation
Orion

Color Mapping

  Telescope Spectral Band Wavelength
Arrow_left_blue KPNO Optical (B-band) 440.0 nm
Arrow_left_green KPNO Optical (V-band) 550.0 nm
Arrow_left_red KPNO Optical (R-band) 700.0 nm
Spectrum_base
Arrow_top_blue
Arrow_top_green
Arrow_top_red