(ORDO NEWS) — At the center of a new image from the Hubble Space Telescope is the bright variable star V 372 Orionis. Its smaller companion star can be seen in the upper left corner of this image.
Both stars are in the Orion Nebula. This colossal star forming region is located approximately 1450 light years from Earth.
V 372 Orionis is a special type of variable star known as an Orion variable. Stars of this type exhibit irregular fluctuations in luminosity.
The Orion variables are often associated with diffuse nebulae, and V 372 Orionis is no exception: the inhomogeneous gas and dust of the Orion Nebula pervades the scene.
This image was taken using two Hubble instruments.
Data from the Advanced Imaging Camera and Wide Angle Camera 3 in infrared and visible wavelengths were overlaid to reveal rich detail in this corner of the Orion Nebula.
Hubble also left its imprint on this astronomical portrait in the form of diffraction bursts surrounding bright stars.
The four bursts around the brightest stars in this image were created by the interaction of starlight with the four Hubble blades that support the telescope’s secondary mirror.
—
Online:
Contact us: [email protected]
Our Standards, Terms of Use: Standard Terms And Conditions.