|
In the center of Orion's sword, just below his belt, lies the great Orion
Nebula. Even the smallest telescopes will reveal the inner brightest regions
of the nebula. Orion is a favorite target of telescope owners December to
February.
|
The gas glows as a result of the intense energy being radiated by the
brightest blue stars near the center in a grouping called the "Trapezium."
While the red light shows where hydrogen gas is preesent and glowing, the
blue light is light being reflected from the Trapezium.
|
The blue color has
the same orign as the blue light of our daytime sky. the gas and small
particles in our atmosphere, like the dust particles in this nebula, reflect
blue light more readily than red.
|
|
