AAO image reference AAT 29. « Previous || Next »
Top left is NE. Image width is about 8 arc min
Image and text © 1979-2002, Anglo-Australian Observatory, photograph by David Malin.
The central 'star' of the three groups forming the asterism of Orion's sword is in reality a nebula, and is clearly nebulous to the unaided eye. At the heart of the most luminous nebulosity shimmer a handful of stars known as the Trapezium cluster, visible in binoculars. These are the brightest members of a substantial cluster of stars , most of which are still hidden in the dusty recesses of the Orion nebula against which they are seen. The stars of the Trapezium provide much of the energy which makes the brilliant Orion Nebula visible and are at a distance of about 1350 light years. This image was made with three, 30-second exposures at the prime focus of the the Anglo-Australian Telescope.
Entry from NGC 2000.0 (R.W. Sinnott, Ed.) © Sky Publishing Corporation, 1988:
NGC 1976 Nb 05 35.4 -05 27 s Ori 66. 4. !!! theta1 Ori and the great neb; = M42Related Images
AAT 19. The Orion nebula
AAT 19a. The Orion nebula, wider field
AAT 19b. The Orion nebula (no unsharp mask)
UKS 8. The Great Nebula in Orion
UKS 23. Faint nebulosity near Orion and Horsehead Nebulae
For details of photographic exposure, search technical table by AAT reference number