M42- Messier never saw it like this
Entry posted by JamesSavik
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This is a deep field image of the Orion nebulea (M42). It's the little glowy patch that you see along Orion's belt on winter nights. If you look closely at the left hand side, you can see the tiny Horse-head nebulea which is a region of dark gas back lite by the bright reflection nebulea.
Orion is an area of intense study. This is a stellar nursery that is home to many infant stars- t-tauri variables and ZAMS (Zero-Aged Main Sequence stars). The luminosity of young O and B embedded within the nebulea powers this magnificant light show.
This and other spectacular images can be had from Astronomy Picture of the Day.
There is a plugin for APOD on goole desktop or google homepage. I think there is one for Firefox as well.
If that's not the cool wallpaper, I don't know what would be.
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