The formation was recently observed with the SOFIA telescope

Dec 20, 2011 08:05 GMT  ·  By
Comparison between two IR images of the heart of the Orion nebula captured by the SOFIA airborne observatory's telescope and a wider image of the same area from the Spitzer Space Telescope
   Comparison between two IR images of the heart of the Orion nebula captured by the SOFIA airborne observatory's telescope and a wider image of the same area from the Spitzer Space Telescope

NASA announces that experts operating its airborne observatory were recently able to produce an interesting new view of the Orion Nebula, which revealed the object's inner structure in close detail.

The work will be used to keep track of the tremendously complex distribution of stars, hydrogen gas and interstellar dust in the nebula. The area is fairly active when it comes to stellar formation, so analyzing it could allow scientists to understand stellar nurseries in more detail.

The NASA Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), while less capable than other telescopes, has the main advantage of being installed aboard a heavily modified Boeing 747 aircraft.

This allows it to conduct its observations from intermediate altitudes, and to observe whatever targets its science team wants from any location above the ground. For the new study, the team selected Messier 42 (M42), which is the Orion Nebula stellar nursery.

According to NASA, these observations were able to reveal that silicon, carbon and other heavy elements – generally known as metals to astronomers – were only some of the components needed for the formation of new stars.

As evidenced in the two mid-infrared images attached to the one collected by the NASA Spitzer Space Telescope, M42 is very active in mid-infrared wavelengths. These photos were collected between May and June, and were compiled by staff scientist James De Buizer.

“SOFIA’s large telescope is able to resolve many individual protostars and young stars as well as knots of dust and gas that could be starting the process of gravitational contraction to become stars,” a NASA press release reports.

“The massive protostar known famously as the BN Object stands out as the individual blue source in the red inset box. The BN/KL region of Orion gets its name from the initials of pioneering infrared astronomers Eric Becklin, Gerry Neugebauer, Doug Kleinmann, and Frank Low,” the statement adds.

Details of the new study will be published in an upcoming issue of the esteemed Astrophysical Journal. SOFIA is a collaborative project between NASA and the German Aerospace Center (DLR).