What is the Orion Nebula NASA?
The Orion Nebula, also known as Messier 42 (or M42 for short), is the nearest star-forming region to Earth, located approximately 1,350 light-years away and is about 2 million years old according to NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (opens in new tab).
Why the Orion Nebula is so special?
Popularly called the Orion Nebula, this stellar nursery has been known to many different cultures throughout human history. The nebula is only 1,500 light-years away, making it the closest large star-forming region to Earth and giving it a relatively bright apparent magnitude of 4.
How big is the Orion Nebula?
12 light yearsOrion Nebula / Radius
Who discovered the Orion Nebula?
Christiaan HuygensOrion Nebula / Discoverer
What is inside the Orion Nebula?
The Orion Nebula is a picture book of star formation, from the massive, young stars that are shaping the nebula to the pillars of dense gas that may be the homes of budding stars. The bright central region is the home of the four heftiest stars in the nebula.
Why is the Orion Nebula blue?
The Orion Nebula gets its reddish hue from hydrogen gas, which is energized by radiation from newborn stars. While the red areas are emitting light, the blue-violet regions in the nebula are reflecting radiation from hot, blue-white O-type stars.
Are there planets in the Orion Nebula?
Yes, there are exo-planets discovered in the Orion constellation, for instance, the stars HD 37605 and HD 38529 both have two known planets. HD 38858 is also interesting, as it has a known planet, and also a disk of comets.
Who discovered Orion Nebula?
Is Orion Nebula Green?
The Orion Nebula (also known as Messier 42, M42, or NGC 1976) is a diffuse nebula with a greenish hue and is situated below Orion’s Belt. It is one of the brightest nebulae, and is visible to the naked eye in the night sky.
How many stars are in Orion Nebula?
The Orion Nebula is an example of a stellar nursery where new stars are being born. Observations of the nebula have revealed approximately 700 stars in various stages of formation within the nebula.