Astronomy Picture of the Day

    NGC 1999: South of Orion Image Credit & Copyright: Adam Block, Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter, U. Arizona Explanation: South of the large star-forming region known as the Orion Nebula, lies bright blue reflection nebula NGC 1999. Also at the edge of the Orion molecular cloud complex some 1,500 light-years distant, NGC 1999's illumination is provided by the embedded variable star V380 Orionis. The nebula is marked with a dark sideways T-shape near center in this broad ... Full Story