Region in the Constellation Orion named the Orion Nebula which is the closest star formation region to us.

1
Region in the Constellation Orion named the Orion
Nebula which is the closest star formation region
to us. Jets and disks appear to be part of the
star birth process
2
The interstellar medium is the region between the
stars. It is composed of gas and dust that
ultimately are the raw materials from which stars
and planetary systems are made. This wide angle
photograph of our milky way galaxy shows dark
dust lanes cutting through the plane of our
galaxy.
3
Astronomers can determine what the interstellar
material is made of, its temperature, and
velocity by observing the absorption lines
produce when starlight passes through the clouds
of material. Blue light is also scattered more
easily than red so the red light makes it through
better, thus objects appear reddened.
4
The clouds and dust of the interstellar medium
tend to be cold and thin by our standards.
Average temperature is 100 K with an average
density of one atom per cm3. On average there is
one dust particle for every trillion atoms.
5
Emission Nebula
6
Dark Nebula
7
21 centimeter radiation is produced when the
spins of the electron and proton flip in a
Hydrogen atom. Radio astronomers can thus map
out the distribution of Hydrogen throughout the
galaxy
8
Star formation take about 10 million years
9
The emission part of the star formation region is
only a small part of the giant cloud.
10
The Orion Nebula
11
More Orion
Individual stars forming in density fingers
12
(No Transcript)