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Credit & Copyright:
Image Data: Subaru Telescope (NAOJ), Hubble Space Telescope,
Additional Color Data and Processing: Robert Gendler
Explanation:
South of the large star-forming region known as the
Orion Nebula, lies bright blue reflection nebula
NGC 1999.
At the edge of the
Orion molecular
cloud complex some 1,500 light-years distant, NGC 1999's
illumination is provided by the
embedded variable star V380 Orionis.
That nebula is marked with a dark sideways T-shape near center in
this
cosmic vista that spans about 10 light-years.
The dark shape was once assumed to be an obscuring dust cloud
seen in silhouette against the bright reflection nebula.
But recent
infrared images
indicate the shape is likely a hole blown through the nebula
itself by energetic young stars.
In fact,
this
region abounds with energetic young stars
producing jets and outflows with luminous shock waves.
Cataloged as Herbig-Haro (HH) objects, named for astronomers
George Herbig and Guillermo Haro,
the shocks look like red gashes in
this scene that includes HH1 and HH2 just below NGC 1999.
The stellar jets
push through the surrounding
material at speeds of hundreds of kilometers per second.
Image Data: Subaru Telescope (NAOJ), Hubble Space Telescope,
Additional Color Data and Processing: Robert Gendler
Comet ISON:
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: NGC 1999 - reflection nebula - star formation
Publications with words: NGC 1999 - reflection nebula - star formation
See also:
- NGC 7023: The Iris Nebula
- APOD: 2025 December 28 Á NGC 1898: Globular Cluster in the Large Magellanic Cloud
- NGC 253: Dusty Island Universe
- APOD: 2025 October 21 Á IC 1805: The Heart Nebula
- Young Suns of NGC 7129
- APOD: 2025 December 9 Á The Heart of the Soul Nebula
- APOD: 2025 September 19 Á The NGC 6914 Complex