Warm Mission Dreamy Stars of Orion

Spitzer_sig10-003_1024

spitzer_sig10-003 April 1st, 2010

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/J. Stauffer (SSC/Caltech)

A colony of hot, young stars is stirring up the cosmic scene in this new picture from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. The image shows the Orion nebula, a happening place where stars are born. The young stars dip and peak in brightness due to a variety of reasons. Shifting cold and hot spots on the stars' surfaces cause brightness levels to change, in addition to surrounding disks of lumpy planet-forming material, which can obstruct starlight. Spitzer is keeping tabs on the young stars, providing data on their changing ways.

The hottest stars in the region, called the Trapezium cluster, are bright spots at center right. Radiation and winds from those stars has sculpted and blown away surrounding dust. The densest parts of the cloud appear dark at center left.

This image was taken after Spitzer's liquid coolant ran dry in May 2009, marking the beginning of its "warm" mission. Light from the telescope's remaining infrared channels has been color-coded: 3.6-micron light is blue and 4.5-micron light is orange.

Provider: Spitzer Space Telescope

Image Source: http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/images/3018-sig10-003-Warm-Mission-Dreamy-Stars-of-Orion

Curator: Spitzer Space Telescope, Pasadena, CA, USA

Image Use Policy: Public Domain

Image Details Image Details

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

Distance Details Distance

Universescale1
1,450 light years
Spitzer_sig10-003_128
 

Position Details Position Details

Position (ICRS)
RA = 5h 35m 15.6s
DEC = -5° 17’ 30.1”
Orientation
North is up
Field of View
0.5 x 1.2 degrees
Constellation
Orion

Color Mapping Details Color Mapping

  Telescope Spectral Band Wavelength
Cyan Spitzer (IRAC) Infrared (Near-IR) 3.6 µm
Orange Spitzer (IRAC) Infrared (Near-IR) 4.5 µm
Spectrum_base
Cyan
Orange
Spitzer_sig10-003_1280
×
ID
sig10-003
Subject Category
B.4.1.2.  
Subject Name
Orion Nebula, Messier 42, M42, NGC 1976
Credits
NASA/JPL-Caltech/J. Stauffer (SSC/Caltech)
Release Date
2010-04-01
Lightyears
1,450
Redshift
1,450
Reference Url
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/images/3018-sig10-003-Warm-Mission-Dreamy-Stars-of-Orion
Type
Observation
Image Quality
Good
Distance Notes
Facility
Spitzer, Spitzer
Instrument
IRAC, IRAC
Color Assignment
Cyan, Orange
Band
Infrared, Infrared
Bandpass
Near-IR, Near-IR
Central Wavelength
3600, 4500
Start Time
Integration Time
Dataset ID
Notes
Coordinate Frame
ICRS
Equinox
J2000
Reference Value
83.8148566, -5.2916855
Reference Dimension
2171.0, 5085.0
Reference Pixel
1086.5, 2543.5
Scale
0.00024032, 0.00024031977
Rotation
-0.01
Coordinate System Projection:
TAN
Quality
Full
FITS Header
Notes
WCS retrieved using CXCs PinpointWCS
Creator (Curator)
Spitzer Space Telescope
URL
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu
Name
Email
Telephone
Address
1200 E. California Blvd.
City
Pasadena
State/Province
CA
Postal Code
91125
Country
USA
Rights
Public Domain
Publisher
Spitzer Science Center
Publisher ID
spitzer
Resource ID
sig10-003.tif
Metadata Date
2012-02-02
Metadata Version
1.1
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Detailed color mapping information coming soon...

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Universescalefull
1,450 light years

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