Download Image
About the Image
About the Object
Color Mapping
Astrometrics
Stars Adorn Orion's Sword
This image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope shows what lies near the sword of the constellation Orion -- an active stellar nursery containing thousands of young stars and developing protostars. Many will turn out like our sun. Some are even more massive. These massive stars light up the Orion nebula, which is seen here as the bright region near the center of the image.
To the north of the Orion nebula is a dark filamentary cloud of cold dust and gas, over 5 light-years in length, containing ruby red protostars that jewel the hilt of Orion's sword. These are the newest generation of stars in this stellar nursery, and include the protostar HOPS 68, where Spitzer spotted tiny green crystals in a surrounding cloud of gas.
Related Media
 |
News Release Spitzer Sees Crystal 'Rain' in Outer Clouds of Infant Star ssc2011-06 |
 |
Image Stars Adorn Orion's Sword ssc2011-06a |
 |
Image Finding Forsterite Around a Developing Star ssc2011-06b |
|
Image Cosmic Fountain of Crystal Rain ssc2011-06c |
 |
November 14 A Galaxy on the Edge |
 |
November 14 Two Galaxies Masquerading as One |
 |
November 11 Bubbly Newborn Star |
 |
October 28 Ghost of Jupiter Nebula |
 |
October 28 Death Beckons Three Aging Stars |
