Heres another striking image from the venerable Hubble Space Telescope. These billows of red and blue show an in-depth appearance at a little part of the well-known Orion Nebula. What actually catches the eye are the brilliant stars with the cross-shaped diffraction spikes– a trademark of Hubble images.
In the center is the bright variable star V 372 Orionis and a smaller buddy star in the upper left is called BD-05 1307.
V 372 Orionis, likewise called HD 36917 or Ori 47, is a so-called Orion variable– a variable star which shows irregular variations in its brightness. Orion variables are typically associated with scattered nebulae, simply like the ambiguous gas and dust of the Orion Nebula, a huge star-forming region full of young, hot stars that lies approximately 1,450 light-years from Earth.
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What truly catches the eye are the brilliant stars with the cross-shaped diffraction spikes– a trademark of Hubble images.
The spikes in the image of stars are not actually parts of the stars, but are imaging artifacts developed by the Hubble itself. ESA discusses that these prominent artefacts are “created by starlight connecting with Hubbles inner workings, and as an outcome they expose hints of Hubbles structure. The 4 spikes surrounding the stars in this image are created by 4 vanes inside Hubble supporting the telescopes secondary mirror.”
BD-05 1307, otherwise referred to as 2MASS J05345223-0533085 or TIC 427373786, is classified as an emission-line star.
This image utilizes data from 2 of Hubbles instruments. Data from the Advanced Camera for Surveys and Wide Field Camera 3 at infrared and noticeable wavelengths were layered to expose abundant information of this corner of the nebula, a regular target of Hubble over the years.
The stunning, shaped clouds of gas in the Orion Nebula make it stunning, however likewise make it tough to see inside of. This image of the Orion Nebula was recorded by the Hubble Telescope. Image: NASA, ESA, M. Robberto (STScI/ESA) and The Hubble Space Telescope Orion Treasury Project Team
The spikes in the image of stars are not in fact parts of the stars, however are imaging artifacts developed by the Hubble itself. ESA explains that these prominent artefacts are “produced by starlight connecting with Hubbles inner workings, and as an outcome they reveal tips of Hubbles structure. The four spikes surrounding the stars in this image are created by four vanes inside Hubble supporting the telescopes secondary mirror.”
The inner area of the Orion Nebula as seen by the James Webb Space Telescopes NIRCam instrument. Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, PDRs4All ERS Team; image processing Salomé Fuenmayor
In comparison, the diffraction spikes of the James Webb Space Telescope are six-pointed as a result of Webbs hexagonal mirror sectors and 3-legged support structure for the secondary mirror..
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