The Orion Deepfield

~The space image below (the Astronomy Picture of the Day from January 6) is just so staggeringly beautiful that I feel compelled to share it with you:

The Orion Deep Field

Credit & Copyright: Robert Gendler

Explanation: Adrift 1,500 light-years away in one of the night sky's most recognizable constellations, the glowing Orion Nebula and the dark Horsehead Nebula are contrasting cosmic vistas. But even fainter filaments of glowing gas are easily traced throughout the region in this stunning composite image that includes exposures filtered to record emission from hydrogen atoms. The view reveals extensive nebulosities associated with the giant Orion Molecular Cloud complex, itself hundreds of light-years across. A magnificent emission region, the Orion Nebula (aka M42) lies at the upper right of the picture. Immediately to its left are a cluster of prominent bluish reflection nebulae sometimes called the Running Man. The Horsehead nebula appears as a dark cloud, a small silhouette notched against the long red glow left of center. Alnitak is the easternmost star in Orion's belt and the brightest star to the left of the Horsehead. Below Alnitak is the Flame Nebula, with clouds of bright emission and dramatic dark dust lanes. Completing the trio of Orion's belt stars, bluish Alnilam and Mintaka form a line with Alnitak, extending to the upper left.

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By the way, if you're up early (or have sharp eyes in the evening), you may be able to catch a glimpse of Comet McNaught, the brightest comet to visit our corner of the solar system in decades. You can catch it in either the early morning or late evening. I'd look for it myself, but the light pollution is so bad in Japan that I can't remember the last time I saw the stars here. ~Oyasumi!