Astronomy:Flame Nebula

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Short description: Emission nebula in the constellation Orion
NGC 2024
Emission nebula
NASA-FlameNebula-NGC2024-20140507.jpg
The Flame Nebula (NGC 2024) - based on Chandra X-Ray and Spitzer Infrared images.
Observation data: J2000.0 epoch
Right ascension 05h 41m 54s
Declination−01° 51′ 0.0″
Distance1350[1] ly   (415 pc)
Apparent magnitude (V)10[2]
Apparent dimensions (V)30'x30'
ConstellationOrion
Physical characteristics
Radius6 ly
DesignationsNGC 2024 and Sharpless 277
See also: Lists of nebulae

The Flame Nebula, designated as NGC 2024 and Sh2-277, is an emission nebula in the constellation Orion. It is about 900 to 1,500 light-years away.

The bright star Alnitak (ζ Ori), the easternmost star in the Belt of Orion, shines energetic ultraviolet light into the Flame and this knocks electrons away from the great clouds of hydrogen gas that reside there. Much of the glow results when the electrons and ionized hydrogen recombine. Additional dark gas and dust lies in front of the bright part of the nebula and this is what causes the dark network that appears in the center of the glowing gas. The Flame Nebula is part of the Orion molecular cloud complex, a star-forming region that includes the famous Horsehead Nebula.

At the center of the Flame Nebula is a cluster of newly formed stars,[3] 86% of which have circumstellar disks.[4] X-ray observations by the Chandra X-ray Observatory[5][6] show several hundred young stars, out of an estimated population of 800 stars.[7] X-ray and infrared images indicate that the youngest stars are concentrated near the center of the cluster.[8][9]

Gallery

  • Optical image in B, V and R filters, from La Silla Observatory

  • Infrared image, from 2MASS

  • Near-infrared image, from VISTA

  • Visible light wide-field view of region of Orion's Belt and the Flame Nebula

  • NGC 2024 seen by the Chandra X-ray Observatory

  • Flame Nebula and Horsehead Nebula

  • Horsehead and Flame Nebulae in H-alpha

References

  1. ↑ Meyer, M. R. (2008). "Star Formation in NGC 2023, NGC 2024, and Southern L1630". in Reipurth, B.. Handbook of Star Forming Regions, Volume II: The Southern Sky ASP Monograph Publications. 5. p. 43. ISBN 978-1-58381-670-7. Bibcode: 2008hsf1.book..662M. 
  2. ↑ "Is the Flame nebula easier to see than the Orion nebula?". stargazerslounge.com. https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/237235-is-the-flame-nebula-easier-to-see-than-the-orion-nebula/. 
  3. ↑ Haisch, K. E. Jr.; Lada, E. A.; Lada, C. J. (2000). "A Near-Infrared L-Band Survey of the Young Embedded Cluster NGC 2024". Astronomical Journal 120 (2): 1396–1409. doi:10.1086/301521. Bibcode: 2000AJ....120.1396H. 
  4. ↑ Haisch, K. E. Jr. (2001). "A Mid-Infrared Study of the Young Stellar Population in the NGC 2024 Cluster". Astronomical Journal 121 (3): 1512–1521. doi:10.1086/319397. Bibcode: 2001AJ....121.1512H. 
  5. ↑ Skinner, S.; Gagné, M.; Belzer, E. (2003). "A Deep Chandra X-Ray Observation of the Embedded Young Cluster in NGC 2024". Astrophysical Journal 598 (1): 375–391. doi:10.1086/378085. Bibcode: 2003ApJ...598..375S. 
  6. ↑ Broos, P. S. (2013). "Identifying Young Stars in Massive Star-forming Regions for the MYStIX Project". Astrophysical Journal 209 (2): 32. doi:10.1088/0067-0049/209/2/32. Bibcode: 2013ApJS..209...32B. 
  7. ↑ Kuhn, M. A.; Getman, K. V.; Feigelson, E. D. (2015). "The Spatial Structure of Young Stellar Clusters. II. Total Young Stellar Populations". Astrophysical Journal 802 (1): 60. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/802/1/60. Bibcode: 2015ApJ...802...60K. 
  8. ↑ Getman, K. V.; Feigelson, E. D.; Kuhn, M. A. (2014). "Core-Halo Age Gradients and Star Formation in the Orion Nebula and NGC 2024 Young Stellar Clusters". Astrophysical Journal 787 (2): 109. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/787/2/109. Bibcode: 2014ApJ...787..109G. 
  9. ↑ Nemiroff, R.; Bonnell, J., eds (10 May 2014). "Inside the Flame Nebula". Astronomy Picture of the Day. NASA. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap140510.html. 

External links

Coordinates: Sky map 05h 41m 54s, −01° 51′ 00″



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