Star Cluster Found Separate From Orion Nebula

Star Cluster Near Orion Nebula Revealed in Telescope Views

by SPACE.com Staff

Date: 14 November 2012 Time: 05:26 PM ET

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Once thought to be part of the Orion nebula, the star cluster NGC 1980 is actually a separate entity, scientists say. It appears around the brightest star seen at the bottom of this image, iota Ori. The disks around the star are the result of internal light reflection in the camera optics. CREDIT: © CFHT/Coelum (J.-C. Cuillandre & G. Anselmi) View full size image

A star cluster once thought to be part of the spectacular Orion Nebula is actually a separate celestial entity parked in front of the nebula, a new study reveals.

Scientists using the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope in Hawaii found that the star cluster NGC 1980 is a distinct, massive bunch of stars in front of the Orion nebula, which at a range of 1,500 light-years is Earth's closest known star factory. The cluster is huddled unevenly around the star iota Ori at the southern tip of the sword in the famed Orion constellation.

More - Link >>> http://www.space.com/18464-orion-nebula-star-cluster.html

Source: Space.com .









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