Flame mist
| Emission nebula | |
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| Data of the flame nebula
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| Recording via VISTA | |
| AladinLite | |
| Constellation | Orion |
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Position equinox : J2000.0 , epoch : J2000.0 |
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| Right ascension | 05 h 41 m 42 s |
| declination | -01 ° 51 ′ 00 ″ |
| Appearance
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| Angular expansion | 30.0 '× 30.0' |
| Ionizing source | |
| designation | IRS2b (?) |
| Physical data
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| Affiliation | Orion Complex ( Milky Way ) |
| distance | 1500 ly |
| diameter | 6.5 years |
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history
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| discovery | Friedrich Wilhelm Herschel |
| Date of discovery | January 1, 1786 |
| Catalog names | |
| NGC 2024 • GC 1227 • H V 28 • CED 55P | |
The Flame Nebula (also known as the Flaming Tree or NGC 2024 ) is an emission nebula in the constellation Orion . The Flame Nebula is part of the Orion Complex , a star formation region that includes IC 434 with the Horsehead Nebula and the Orion Nebula .
The flame nebula was discovered on January 1st, 1786 by Friedrich Wilhelm Herschel .
morphology
The apparent size of the Flame Nebula is 30.0 '× 30.0' and its distance is estimated to be about 1500 light years . Seen from Earth, the Flame Nebula lies immediately to the east of the bright star Alnitak (Zeta Orionis); however, this is only an apparent proximity, because the latter is only about half as far from the earth and there is no connection between the two objects.
Infrared studies of the nebula have shown a dense and very young star cluster in the central region of the Flame Nebula, which is covered by clouds of dust in visible light. The age of the star cluster is estimated to be less than a million years; many of its stars are surrounded by accretion disks . One of these stars, named IRS2b, has also been identified as the suspected source of ionization for the nebula.
Image of the center in the visible spectral range with a 1.5 m telescope from the La Silla Observatory . The flame-like, reddish appearance is caused by an Hα emission that is structured by a cloud of dust.
Superimposition of X-ray images and infrared radiation images . Taken with the Chandra Space Telescope and the Spitzer Space Telescope .
Individual evidence
Web links
- Photo and general information (English)
- Spektrum.de : Amateur recording [1]