Infrared Universe: The Orion Nebula

The Orion Nebula, also known as M42, is well studied in infrared light. Capturing longer wavelengths lets us peer deeper into the increasingly cold, dense dust clouds that harbor young stars. These baby stars begin to pop out in the infrared. The longest wavelengths of infrared light begin to show the glow of the coldest, densest filaments of dust.

Optical: The Orion Nebula shines with the glow of hot gas.
Credit: NOAO, AURA, NSF, A. Block, R. Steinb

Infrared: Infrared light shows the warm dust (red).
Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, T. Megeath (University of Toledo, Ohio)

About the Infrared Universe Collection

The human eye can only see visible light, but objects give off a variety of wavelengths of light. To see an object as it truly exists, we would ideally look at its appearance through the full range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Telescopes show us objects as they appear emitting different energies of light, with each wavelength conveying unique information about the object. The Webb Space Telescope will study infrared light from celestial objects with much greater clarity and sensitivity than ever before. Explore the Infrared Universe. Adapted from Cool Cosmos by IPAC, with additional contributions from Bruno Merin and Miguel Merin (Pludo).