ALMA views a stellar explosion in Orion

Stellar explosions are most often associated with supernovae, the spectacular deaths of stars. But new ALMA observations of the Orion Nebula complex provide insights into explosions at the other end of the stellar life cycle, star birth. Astronomers captured these dramatic images of the remains of a 500-year-old explosion as they explored the firework-like debris from the birth of a group of massive stars, demonstrating that star formation can be a violent and explosive process too.

The colours in the ALMA data represent the relative Doppler shifting of the millimetre-wavelength light emitted by carbon monoxide gas. The blue colour in the ALMA data represents gas approaching at the highest speeds; the red colour is from gas moving toward us more slowly.

The background image includes optical and near-infrared imaging from both the Gemini South and ESO Very Large Telescope. The famous Trapezium Cluster of hot young stars appears towards the bottom of this image. The ALMA data do not cover the full image shown here.

Źródło:

ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO), J. Bally/H. Drass et al.

O zdjęciu

Identyfikator:eso1711a
Typ:Obserwacje
Data publikacji:7 kwietnia 2017 15:00
Powiązane komunikaty:eso1711
Rozmiar:2707 x 2824 px

O obiekcie

Nazwa:OMC, Orion Molecular Cloud
Typ:Milky Way : Star : Grouping : Cluster : Open
Odległość:1400 lat świetlnych
Constellation:Orion
Kategoria:Nebulae
Star Clusters

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51,4 MB
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929,9 KB

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Współrzędne

Pozycja (RA):5 35 14.08
Pozycja (Dec):-5° 22' 2.33"
Pole widzenia:4.02 x 4.20 arcminutes
Orientacja:North is 0.1° prawo of vertical

Kolory i filtry

PasmoDługość faliTeleskop
Podczerwony
Fe II
1.64 μmGemini Observatory
GSAOI
Podczerwony
J
1.25 μmVery Large Telescope
ISAAC
Podczerwony
H
1.65 μmVery Large Telescope
ISAAC
Podczerwony
H2
2.12 μmGemini Observatory
GSAOI
Podczerwony
Ks
2.2 μmVery Large Telescope
ISAAC
Milimetrowy
216-233 GHz
1.3 mmAtacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array
Band 6