Key Highlights
- Hubble Space Telescope captured breathtaking image which is the bright variable star V 372 Orionis in the Orion Nebula.
- It also captures a smaller companion star in the the upper left of the image.
- Orion Nebula is a colossal region of star formation located approximately 1450 light years from Earth.
Hubble Space Telescope captured an image that is the bright variable star V 372 Orionis in the Orion Nebula. It captures a smaller companion star in the upper left of the image. Both the stars lie in the Orion Nebula, a colossal region of star formation located nearly 1450 light years from Earth.
V 372 Orionis is a specific type of variable star known as an Orion Variable that experience some tempestuous moods and growing pains. Such stars are visible to astronomers as irregular variations in luminosity. Orion Variables are typically associated with diffuse nebulae, and V 372 Orionis is no exception. The patchy gas and dust of the Orion Nebula pervade the scene.
This image overlays data from two of Hubble’s instruments. Detailed information from the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) and Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) at infrared and visible wavelengths were layered to reveal rich details of this corner of the Orion Nebula.
Diffraction Spikes
Hubble also left its own subtle signature on this astronomical portrait in the form of the diffraction spikes surrounding the bright stars. These prominent artifacts are created by starlight interacting with Hubble’s inner workings. As a result, they reveal hints of Hubble’s structure.
The four spikes surrounding the stars in this image are created by four vanes inside Hubble supporting the telescope’s secondary mirror. On the other hand, the diffraction spikes of the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope are six-pointed as a result of Webb’s hexagonal mirror segments and 3-legged support structure for the secondary mirror.
Also Read: Increase-your-savings-for-retirement
