#reflection nebulas

IRAS 12196-6300

IRAS 12196-6300 is an emission line star located about 2,300 light years away towards the constellation Crux. Displayed on a spectrum, the star’s light displays as an array of colors marked by dark and bright lines. These lines follow characteristic patterns of atoms and molecules, and allow astronomers to determine the chemical composition of the star.

IRAS 12196-6300 is a very young star, much younger than our Sun. It has yet to begin burning hydrogen at its core, and is still surrounded by dust clouds likely remaining from its formation. Light from the star reflects off these clouds, creating beautiful reflection nebulae. 

(NASA)  M78 and Orion Dust Reflections

Image Credit & Copyright: Marco Burali, Tiziano Capecchi, Marco Mancini (MTM observatory, Italy)

Barnard’s Loop and NGC 2170

Barnard’s Loop is a curious nebula located about 1,500 light years circling the Great Orion Nebula. While it glows much like an emission nebula, the true origin of the structure remains unknown. Supernovae or stellar winds from bright Orion stars have been suggested as causes for the nebula’s formation.

To the right of Barnard’s Loop in this image lies NGC 2170, a complex of nebulae located about 2,400 light years away towards the constellation Monoceros, the Unicorn. It includes blue reflection nebulae, emission nebulae, and dark dust clouds surrounding a molecular cloud.

M78 and Orion Dust Reflections

Image Credit & Copyright: Marco Burali, Tiziano Capecchi, Marco Mancini (MTM observatory, Italy)

Explanation: In the vast Orion Molecular Cloud complex, several bright blue nebulas are particularly apparent. Pictured here are two of the most prominent reflection nebulas - dust clouds lit by the reflecting light of bright embedded stars. The more famous nebula is M78, in the image center, cataloged over 200 years ago. To its left is the lesser known NGC 2071. Astronomers continue to study these reflection nebulas to better understand how interior stars form. The Orion complex lies about 1500 light-years distant, contains the Orion and Horsehead nebulas, and covers much of the constellation of Orion.