BN/KL complex in the Orion Nebula

This is one of a series of mid-infrared images of the BN/KL complex, a star-forming region deep inside the Orion Nebula, obtained with ESO's Thermal Infrared MultiMode Instrument (TIMMI2), mounted at the Cassegrain focus of the 3.6-m telescope on La Silla. The area is located close to the Trapezium cluster. The dust is more transparent at longer wavelengths and the complex is clearly seen in this image, which is an image ratio of images obtained with TIMMI2 at wavelengths of 10.3 µm and 20.0µm. They show in some detail the structures around the compact sources and the extended thermal emission from the dust. It illustrates how the temperature of the dust in this area varies. The brighter areas are the hotter ones.

Technical information: this image shows the observed 20.0 µm to 10.3 µm brightness ratio and hence the distribution of the colour temperature. The lowest observed ratio corresponds to the highest temperature (a de-reddened colour temperature of about 460K, or +190 °C); it occurs at the location of the BN object .

Credit:

ESO

About the Image

Id:eso0113d
Type:Observation
Release date:30 March 2001
Related releases:eso0113
Size:479 x 686 px

About the Object

Name:Becklin/Neugebauer Complex, BN/KL Complex
Type:Milky Way : Nebula : Type : Star Formation
Distance:1400 light years
Category:Nebulae

Image Formats

Large JPEG
115.7 KB
Screensize JPEG
237.5 KB

Wallpapers

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Colours & filters

BandWavelengthTelescope
Infrared
Mid-IR
10 μmESO 3.6-metre telescope
TIMMI2
Infrared
Q
20 μmESO 3.6-metre telescope
TIMMI2

Notes: This image shows the observed 20.0 µm to 10.3 µm brightness ratio.