Monkey Head Nebula: Visible & Infrared Comparison | Hubble

Monkey Head Nebula: Visible & Infrared Comparison | Hubble

This image compares two views of the same detailed area in the star-forming nebula NGC 2174 from the Hubble Space Telescope. On the left is a visible-light image made by WFPC2 observations taken in 2001—and released in 2011—and on the right is an image made by the WFC3 infrared camera. Infrared light penetrates more dust and gas than visible light, allowing details to become visible. A jet of material from a newly forming star is visible in one of the pillars, just above and left of center in the right-hand image. Several galaxies are seen in the infrared view, much more distant than the columns of dust and gas.

Credit: NASA and European Space Agency

Acknowledgment: NASA, European Space Agency, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA), and J. Hester

Release Date: March 17, 2014

#NASA #ESA #Astronomy #Space #Hubble #Nebula #MonkeyHeadNebula #Infrared #NGC2174 #Orion #Constellation #Cosmos #Universe #SpaceTelescope #GSFC #STScI #AURA #UnitedStates #Europe #STEM #Education