Tuesday, January 12, 2010

APOD Blog 1.7



This is referred to as the "flame nebula", because due to it's dark glow and dust it appears to be a billowing fire at some angles. This nebula lies near the constellation of Orion. What causes the "Flame" in the nebula is the Easternmost star is the Belt of Orion, referred to as Alnitak. The star sends energetic light into the flame which sends electrons away from the clouds of hydrogen gas. The glow occurs when the electrons and ionized hydrogen recombine. I thought this was a beautiful image.

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