McNeil's Nebula
A timely discovery by American amateur astronomer Jay McNeil, followed immediately by observations at the Gemini Observatory, has provided a rare glimpse into the slow, yet violent birth of a star about 1,500 light-years away. The resulting findings reveal some of the strongest stellar winds ever detected around an embryonic Sun-like star. Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph image of the McNeil Nebula obtained on Feb 14th with the Frederick C. Gillett Gemini Telescope on Mauna Kea Hawaii.
Credit:International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA
This image was obtained by Gemini Observatory/Colin Aspin and processed into a color composite by Kirk Pu'uohau-Pummill (Gemini Observatory) and Travis Rector (University of Alaska, Anchorage)
About the Image
| Id: | geminiann08002e |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | March 30, 2004, 8 p.m. |
| Related releases: | gemini0402 |
| Related announcements: | geminiann08002 |
| Size: | 800 x 800 px |
About the Object
| Name: | McNeil's Nebula |
| Constellation: | Orion |
| Category: | Nebulae |
Wallpapers
Coordinates
| Position (RA): | 5 46 13.28 |
| Position (Dec): | 0° 5' 38.58" |
| Field of view: | 1.94 x 1.94 arcminutes |
| Orientation: | North is 0.0° left of vertical |
View in WorldWide Telescope:
Colors & filters
| Band | Wave-length | Tele-scope |
|---|---|---|
| Optical g | 475 nm | Gemini North GMOS-N |
| Optical r | 630 nm | Gemini North GMOS-N |
| Optical i | 780 nm | Gemini North GMOS-N |