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Don Bouc Astrophotography
Distance: 967 light years
Radius: 4 light years
What is it?: This reflection nebula has a high star forming region on its left side (reddish area) and a large amount of residual dust illuminated by the new stars.
This area contains hundreds of young stars less than one million years old.
Radius: 4 light years
What is it?: This reflection nebula has a high star forming region on its left side (reddish area) and a large amount of residual dust illuminated by the new stars.
This area contains hundreds of young stars less than one million years old.
Distance: 1,350 light years
Radius: 5 light years
What is it?: This large nebula is very near the Orion Nebula and is often overlooked.
At least 192 stars have been formed by this nebula. Two very large stars result in the main brilliance of this structure.
Radius: 5 light years
What is it?: This large nebula is very near the Orion Nebula and is often overlooked.
At least 192 stars have been formed by this nebula. Two very large stars result in the main brilliance of this structure.
Distance: 1,500 light years
Radius: 100 light years
What is it?: This is an active star forming region. In the Tadpole Nebula you can see a star cluster (NGC 1983) that was formed in this cloud.
The Flaming Star Nebula itself is about 5 light years across.
Radius: 100 light years
What is it?: This is an active star forming region. In the Tadpole Nebula you can see a star cluster (NGC 1983) that was formed in this cloud.
The Flaming Star Nebula itself is about 5 light years across.
Distance: 1,344 light years
Radius: 12 light years
What is it?: Probably the most photographed nebula complex, the Great Orion Nebula is an extremely active star forming region.
Radius: 12 light years
What is it?: Probably the most photographed nebula complex, the Great Orion Nebula is an extremely active star forming region.
Distance: 2,400 light years
Radius: 15 light years
What is it?: The blue color of this nebula is the reflection of nearby stars. The red is hydrogen areas where new stars are created. The dark, black streaks mostly interstellar dust.
Radius: 15 light years
What is it?: The blue color of this nebula is the reflection of nearby stars. The red is hydrogen areas where new stars are created. The dark, black streaks mostly interstellar dust.
Distance: 400 light years
What is it?: This is a faint nebula, and is often difficult to image. It is actually composed of very fine dust that reflects the light of some brighter stars around it. The "eye" of the horse is a reflection of the large star Nu Scorpii.
What is it?: This is a faint nebula, and is often difficult to image. It is actually composed of very fine dust that reflects the light of some brighter stars around it. The "eye" of the horse is a reflection of the large star Nu Scorpii.
Distance: 3,200 light years
Radius: 15 light years
What is it?: This nebula is located in a crowded field of stars. It has a long tail of dust. As with all star forming regions, the hydrogen gas causes the red color.
Radius: 15 light years
What is it?: This nebula is located in a crowded field of stars. It has a long tail of dust. As with all star forming regions, the hydrogen gas causes the red color.
Distance: 2,500 light years
Distance: 9,000 light years
Radius: 21 light years
What is it?: This nebula is a combination of a star cluster, an emission nebula, a dark nebula, and a reflection nebula. The largest star born in this region is 20 times the mass of our sun.
Radius: 21 light years
What is it?: This nebula is a combination of a star cluster, an emission nebula, a dark nebula, and a reflection nebula. The largest star born in this region is 20 times the mass of our sun.
Distance: 1,000 light years
Radius: 25 light years
What is it?: This is a very faint reflection nebula, very hard to capture. It is possibly a supernova remnant lit by the very large, bright star: Rigel.
Radius: 25 light years
What is it?: This is a very faint reflection nebula, very hard to capture. It is possibly a supernova remnant lit by the very large, bright star: Rigel.
Distance: 1,800 to 2,500 light years
What is it?: These two nebulae appear close to each other, but are quite far apart. The part of the North American Nebula that closely resembles Mexico/Central America is the most active star forming region.
Millions of years from now this area will be unrecognizable due to the active movement of these clouds.
What is it?: These two nebulae appear close to each other, but are quite far apart. The part of the North American Nebula that closely resembles Mexico/Central America is the most active star forming region.
Millions of years from now this area will be unrecognizable due to the active movement of these clouds.
Distance: 550 light years
Radius: 1 light year
What is it?: Massive clouds of gas and dust are illuminated by a very bright star. That star is 14 times larger than our sun, and is 55,000 times more luminous. It is only 3 light years away from the nebula.
Radius: 1 light year
What is it?: Massive clouds of gas and dust are illuminated by a very bright star. That star is 14 times larger than our sun, and is 55,000 times more luminous. It is only 3 light years away from the nebula.
Distance: 1,500 light years
What is it?: The interesting part of the this nebula is the small expanded area. This tiny black patch in the large cloud is actually a "hole" in this cloud, not an area of dark dust or gas. The cause of this hole is still being investigated.
What is it?: The interesting part of the this nebula is the small expanded area. This tiny black patch in the large cloud is actually a "hole" in this cloud, not an area of dark dust or gas. The cause of this hole is still being investigated.
Distance: 444 light years (on average)
What is it?: While this cluster of stars is very popular, most people are not aware of the gas cloud that is traveling across them. It was originally thought that this cloud was leftover from the formation of these stars, but it now understood that this is not the case. This cloud of gas is moving across this area at about 40,000 miles/hour.
What is it?: While this cluster of stars is very popular, most people are not aware of the gas cloud that is traveling across them. It was originally thought that this cloud was leftover from the formation of these stars, but it now understood that this is not the case. This cloud of gas is moving across this area at about 40,000 miles/hour.
Distance: 2,000 light years
What is it?: This nebula is sometimes referred to as the Cosmic Bat. It is very small and very dim, but still very interesting. The fly-by link below is very descriptive.
What is it?: This nebula is sometimes referred to as the Cosmic Bat. It is very small and very dim, but still very interesting. The fly-by link below is very descriptive.
Distance: 7,000 to 10,000 light years
What is it?: The Fly Nebula is also known as a miniature Orion Nebula since they share the same chacteristics.
Messier 38 star cluster is closer than the nebulae, only about 3,500 light years away.
What is it?: The Fly Nebula is also known as a miniature Orion Nebula since they share the same chacteristics.
Messier 38 star cluster is closer than the nebulae, only about 3,500 light years away.
Common Name: Hubble Variable Nebula
Distance: 2,500 light years
Radius: .5 light years
What is it?: Why include this small non-descript nebula? Because it is different from other reflection nebulae. The star that “lights” this nebula is a “variable star”, which means the star changes color over time, so this nebula changes color, also. The star the lights this nebula is about 10 times larger than our sun.
Distance: 2,500 light years
Radius: .5 light years
What is it?: Why include this small non-descript nebula? Because it is different from other reflection nebulae. The star that “lights” this nebula is a “variable star”, which means the star changes color over time, so this nebula changes color, also. The star the lights this nebula is about 10 times larger than our sun.
Distance: 1,300 light years
Radius: 6 light years
What is it?: This star forming nebula region has such thick dust that it obscures the star being formed. There is a very large central star that illuminates the entire area.
Radius: 6 light years
What is it?: This star forming nebula region has such thick dust that it obscures the star being formed. There is a very large central star that illuminates the entire area.
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