Flame Nebula

Coordinates: Sky map 05h 41m 54s, −01° 51′ 00″
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about the nebula in Orion. Not to be confused with Flaming star nebula, a nebula in Auriga.
NGC 2024
Emission nebula
The Flame Nebula (NGC 2024) - based on Chandra X-Ray and Spitzer Infrared images.
Observation data: J2000.0 epoch
Right ascension05h 41m 54s
Declination−01° 51′ 0.0″
Distance1350[1] ly   (415 pc)
Apparent magnitude (V)10
Apparent dimensions (V)30'x30'
ConstellationOrion
Physical characteristics
Radius6 ly
DesignationsNGC 2024 and Sharpless 277
See also: Lists of nebulae

The Flame Nebula, designated as NGC 2024 and Sh2-277, is an

Orion Molecular Cloud Complex
.

The bright star

Belt of Orion, appears very close to the Flame Nebula in the sky. But the star and nebula are not physically associated with one another. The Flame Nebula contains a young cluster of stars which includes at least one hot, luminous O-type star labeled IRS 2b.[2]
The dense gas and dust in the foreground of the nebula heavily obscures the star cluster inside the nebula, making studies at infrared wavelengths most useful.

The energetic

circumstellar disks.[4] X-ray observations by the Chandra X-ray Observatory[5][6] show several hundred young stars, out of an estimated population of 800 stars.[7] X-ray and infrared images indicate that the young stars are concentrated near the center of the cluster.[8][9]

The center of the Flame Nebula seen by JWST NIRCam, revealing proplyds in new detail and revealing two new candidates.

The Flame Nebula was observed with ALMA and this study found two populations, which are separated by a molecular cloud. The eastern population is 0.2-0.5 Myr old and has a disk fraction of 45±7%. The western population is slightly older at 1 Myr and has a lower disk fraction of 15±4%.[10] This disk fraction is lower than the one observed in the mid-infrared,[4] but the ALMA survey also observed a smaller region.[10] The eastern part contains the O8 star IRS 2b and the western part contains the B0.5V star IRS 1. Hubble observations have shown that the Flame Nebula contains 4 clear proplyds and 4 candidate proplyds. Three of these are in the older western region and are pointing towards IRS 1. The other 5 are in the younger eastern region and are pointing towards IRS 2b.[11]

Gallery

  • Optical image in B, V and R filters, from La Silla Observatory
    Optical image in B, V and R filters, from La Silla Observatory
  • Infrared image, from 2MASS
    Infrared image, from 2MASS
  • Near-infrared image, from VISTA
    Near-infrared image, from VISTA
  • Visible light wide-field view of region of Orion's Belt and the Flame Nebula
    Visible light wide-field view of region of Orion's Belt and the Flame Nebula
  • NGC 2024 seen by the Chandra X-ray Observatory
    NGC 2024 seen by the Chandra X-ray Observatory
  • Flame Nebula and Horsehead Nebula
    Flame Nebula and Horsehead Nebula
  • Horsehead and Flame Nebulae in H-alpha
    Horsehead and Flame Nebulae in H-alpha

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 978-1-58381-670-7
    .
  2. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20030301
    .
  3. S2CID 18143699
    .
  4. ^
    S2CID 1645511
    .
  5. S2CID 18798394
    .
  6. S2CID 67827240
    .
  7. S2CID 119309858
    .
  8. S2CID 118503957
    .
  9. ^ Nemiroff, R.; Bonnell, J., eds. (10 May 2014). "Inside the Flame Nebula". Astronomy Picture of the Day. NASA. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
  10. ^
    ISSN 0004-6361
    .
  11. doi:10.1093/mnras/staa3918
    .

External links

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