Protoplanetary disc in the Orion Nebula
Disks around young stars (also known as circumstellar or protoplanetary disks) are thought to be made up of 99% gas and 1% dust. Even that small amount of dust is enough to make the disks opaque and dark at visible wavelengths. The dark disk is seen in this image because they are silhouetted against the bright backdrop of the hot gas of the Orion nebula.
Credit:About the Image
About the Object
| Name: | Messier 42, NGC 1976, 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 18.31 |
| Position (Dec): | -5° 24' 4.86" |
| Field of view: | 0.07 x 0.07 arcminutes |
| Orientation: | North is 9.5° left of vertical |
View in ESASky:
View in WorldWide Telescope:
Colours & filters
| Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
|---|---|---|
| Optical OIII | 502 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
WFPC2 |
| Optical H-alpha | 656 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
WFPC2 |
| Optical NII | 658 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
WFPC2 |