Proplyds in the Orion Nebula
This picture shows glowing protoplanetary disks (first discovered with the Hubble in 1992, and dubbed "proplyds") that are believed to be embryonic solar systems that will eventually form planets. (Our solar system has long been considered the relic of just such a disk that formed around the newborn Sun). The abundance of such objects in the Orion nebula strengthens the argument that planet formation is a common occurrence in the universe.
Credit:NASA, C.R. O'Dell and S.K. Wong (Rice University)
About the Image
About the Object
| Name: | Messier 42, Orion Nebula, Orion Proplyd |
| Type: | Milky Way : Nebula : Type : Star Formation Milky Way : Nebula : Appearance : Dark : Proplyd |
| Distance: | 1400 light years |
| Constellation: | Orion |
| Category: | Nebulae |
Coordinates
| Position (RA): | 5 35 18.32 |
| Position (Dec): | -5° 24' 11.54" |
| Field of view: | 0.29 x 0.28 arcminutes |
| Orientation: | North is 44.4° left of vertical |
View in ESASky:
View in WorldWide Telescope:
