The Trapezium
as photographed by the Anglo-Australian Telescope.
The brightest region of the Orion nebula around the Trapezium cluster is
subject of another nomenclature coming from historical visual observers,
namely Herschel, Struve, and Rosse, and is here quoted from R.C. Stoyan’s
and Andreas Alzner’s articles “Orions Schwertgehänge” in the German
Deep Sky magazine interstellarum, Part 1: No. 2 (Feb 1995), p. 6-9,
Part 2 and 3: No. 5 (Nov 1996), p.16-20, which also contain excellent
observing hints and reports. The Fish’s Mouth there has the designation
“Sinus Magnus”, while the wing ends are named “Proboscis Maior” (SE, lower in
our image) and “Proboscis Minor” (NW). The bright region of the nebula around
the Trapezium is called “Regio Huygheniana”, which is sharply limited by the
“Frons” toward the lower-surface-brightness “Regio Subnebulosa” in the
southeast (lower left) which contains as its brightest star Theta2 Orionis
(nearest to the “Frons”); Theta1 is the brightest Trapezium star. The bright
“light bridge” left of the Trapezium through Sinus Magnus is called
“Pons Schröteri”, which ends up in the northern lower surface brightness
“Regio Picardiana”. The part of the nebula right of Regio Huyghiana was named
“Regio Derhamiana”, while the dark structures in the lower right are the
“Sinus Gentili”, which go over into the “Regio Fouchiana” at the very lower
right.
Old style version of this and other AAT images of M42
AAT images of the Trapezium cluster
Comparative view in the visible and the IR part of the spectrum.
The infrared image shows many more young cool stars in formation.
Above images are copyrighted and may be used for private purpose
only. For any other kind of use, including internet mirroring and storing on
CD-ROM, please contact
Coral Cooksley of the
- More images from the Anglo Australian Observatory
F.L. Whipple Observatory image of the Trapezium region in M42.
The colors in this image were carefully tuned to resemble the appearance
in the human eye, if it were sensitive enough. This image was created from
CCD photos taken through red, green, and blue filters with the FLWO 48-inch
telescope on Mt. Hopkins, Arizona by Nelson Caldwell.
- More images from the FLWO
Also of interest:
- The Trapezium Region of M42 investigated from
Lowell Observatory
This HST image shows a part of the “Frons”, the bright star on the left is
Theta2 Orionis. In the bright “Regio Huygheniana” (or Huygens Region)
several protoplanetary disks can be found in an
apparently very turbulent gaseous environment.
- More images of M42
- Amateur images of M42
Last Modification: 7 Jul 1999, 0:30 MET