Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. In addition to housing a bright open cluster of stars known as the Trapezium , the Orion Nebula contains many stellar nurseries . These nurseries contain hydrogen gas, hot young stars , proplyds , and stellar jets spewing material at high speeds. Most of the filamentary structures visible in this image are actually shock waves - fronts where fast moving material encounters slow moving gas.
Shocks are particularly apparent near the bright stars in the lower left of the picture.
The Orion Nebula is about 1500 light years distant, located in the same spiral arm of our Galaxy as the Sun . Specific rights apply .