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Orion Nebula
Orion Nebula bright diffuse nebula in the constellation Orion; also known as the Great Nebula of Orion and cataloged as M42 or NGC 1976. It is located near the middle of the "sword" hanging from Orion's "belt" of stars. Its central bright region is about 1° in diameter and it has a total extension of 3°. It is about 1,000 light-years distant and as many as 60 light-years in diameter. The nebula is an enormous cloud of gas surrounding a cluster of very hot young stars. To the naked eye the nebula appears to be a faint star but becomes a vague patch of light when viewed through binoculars. The bright region is divided into two sections, the northeast portion being cataloged separately as M43 or NGC 1982. The Orion Nebula is the nearest major site to earth of massive star formation. |
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"Orion Nebula." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Orion Nebula." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-OrionNeb.html "Orion Nebula." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-OrionNeb.html |
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Orion Nebula
Orion Nebula A large and bright nebula, 1500 l.y. away in the constellation Orion; also known as M42 or NGC 1976. The nebula covers more than 1° × 1° of sky and is faintly visible to the naked eye as a fuzzy patch around the multiple star Theta1 Orionis, also known as the Trapezium. The ultraviolet light from the Trapezium stars ionizes the nebula. The Orion Nebula is over 20 l.y. in diameter, and contains several hundred solar masses of ionized gas. It forms a hot blister on the near side of one of the massive Orion Molecular Clouds.
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"Orion Nebula." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Orion Nebula." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-OrionNebula.html "Orion Nebula." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-OrionNebula.html |
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Orion Nebula
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"Orion Nebula." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Orion Nebula." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-OrionNebula.html "Orion Nebula." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-OrionNebula.html |
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