欧几里得太空望远镜的M78

2024年5月24日

M78 from the Euclid Space Telescope
Image Credit & License: ESA, Euclid, Euclid Consortium, NASA; Processing: J.-C. Cuillandre (CEA Paris-Saclay), G. Anselmi

Explanation: Star formation can be messy. To help find out just how messy, ESA‘s new Sun-orbiting Euclid telescope recently captured the most detailed image ever of the bright star forming region M78. Near the image center, M78 lies at a distance of only about 1,300 light-years away and has a main glowing core that spans about 5 light-years. The featured image was taken in both visible and infrared light. The purple tint in M78’s center is caused by dark dust preferentially reflecting the blue light of hot, young stars. Complex dust lanes and filaments can be traced through this gorgeous and revealing skyscape. On the upper left is associated star forming region NGC 2071, while a third region of star formation is visible on the lower right. These nebulas are all part of the vast Orion Molecular Cloud Complex which can be found with even a small telescope just north of Orion’s belt.

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欧几里得太空望远镜的M78
影像提供与授权: ESA, Euclid, Euclid Consortium, NASA; 影像处理: J.-C. Cuillandre (CEA Paris-Saclay), G. Anselmi

说明: 恒星形成可以很混乱。为了解这种混乱的过程提供助力，欧洲航天局（ESA）的新太阳轨道望远镜欧几里得，最近为明亮的恒星形成区M78拍下了空前高解析的的影像。位于这幅摄于可见光及红外光波段的主题影像中心附近的M78，距离我们约仅有1,300光年，而其发光的主要核心区之跨幅约为5光年。M78中心的泛紫色泽，则是由于黝黑尘埃反射炽热年轻恒星的蓝光之效率较高所致。透过这张壮丽且具有揭示性的天空影像，得以清楚见到复杂的尘埃带和细丝。在影像的左上角，可见到邻近的恒星形成区NGC 2071，而在右下角，可看到第三个恒星形成区。这些星云全都是猎户分子云复合体的一部分，使用小望远镜即可在猎户腰带的北侧找到它们。