The Flame Nebula in any other case referred to as NGC 2024, is an emission nebula situated within the constellation Orion. It is a stellar nursery that will get its frequent identify from its flame-like look when seen via optical telescopes. In my view it’s truly one of many few astronomical objects that appear to be their identify! It measures round 30 gentle years throughout and is a part of the large Orion Molecular Cloud Complicated, one of the crucial lively star forming areas in our Galaxy. The nebula is illuminated by the star Alnitak, the easternmost star in Orion’s Belt, whose ultraviolet radiation causes the hydrogen gasoline to glow. Contained in the Flame Nebula, pockets of gasoline and dirt are collapsing to kind new stars.
That is the Flame Nebula in seen gentle (broadband). The brilliant star above it Alnitak. The nebulae to the higher left of it are IC 431 and IC 432. Captured by novice astronomer Chuck Ayoub. Goal: Flame Nebula Imaging Telescope: Celestron RASA (400 focal size) Focuser: Celestron Digital Focuser Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Professional Imaging Digital camera: ZWO ASI533MC Shade Complete Publicity Time: 9.39 hours (Credit score : Chuck Ayoub)
Not too long ago, a workforce of astronomers have used the JWST to watch the Flame Nebula and the resultant picture is nothing in need of beautiful. This was solely doable due to the superb capabilities of JWST and its unimaginable infrared capabilities. It was launched in December 2021 and operates from a place 1.6 million km from Earth. From this vantage level, the 6.5-meter mirror captures gentle that has traveled for billions of years. It’s the infrared functionality that enabled astronomers to look via the dense mud and gasoline that usually obscure our view and seize the beautiful pictures of the Flame.
Artist impression of the James Webb House Telescope (Credit score : NASA)
JWST operates primarily within the infrared spectrum from 0.6 to twenty-eight micron (seen gentle is 0.38 to 0.7 microns) and, at this wavelength it could detect gentle that has been stretched by the growth of the universe or obscured by mud. Its 4 scientific devices; NIRCam, NIRSpec, MIRI, and FGS/NIRISS are designed to seize infrared radiation . NIRCam and NIRSpec excel at detecting near-infrared gentle which is good for observing distant galaxies and exoplanets, whereas MIRI extends capabilities into the mid-infrared vary, essential for finding out cooler objects like protoplanetary disks and newly forming stars.
The picture launched is a composite picture and divulges the dusty nebulosity captured throughout a number of wavelengths. The principle a part of the picture shows the nebula in seen gentle, exhibiting wispy plumes extending from a central pillar. There are then two tilted white squares superimposed that spotlight particular areas of curiosity inside the construction which have been focused by JWST. The suitable third of the composition comprises two near-infrared views of those highlighted areas, the place gentle has been colour-coded by wavelength: blue represents 1.15-1.4 microns, inexperienced reveals 1.82 microns, orange depicts 3.6 microns, and crimson signifies 4.3 microns.
All through all pictures, stars of various colors—crimson, blue, and white—are scattered throughout the sector of view, whereas the near-infrared views reveal a distinct view providing details about the nebula’s composition that isn’t seen in optical wavelengths alone.
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