Wide-field view: Cosmic Bat Nebula (NGC 1788) in Orion | Digitized Sky Survey 2

Wide-field view: Cosmic Bat Nebula (NGC 1788) in Orion | Digitized Sky Survey 2

The delicate nebula NGC 1788 is located in a dark and often neglected corner of the constellation Orion. Although this ghostly cloud is rather isolated from Orion’s bright stars, their powerful winds and light have a strong impact on the nebula, forging its shape and making it a home to a multitude of infant suns. This image from the Digitized Sky Survey 2 covers a field of view of 3 x 2.9 degrees, and shows that the Bat Nebula is part of much larger nebulosity.

Distance: 1,300 light years

The Digitized Sky Survey (DSS) is a ground-based imaging survey of the entire sky in several colors of light produced by the Space Telescope Science Institute through its Guide Star Survey group.

Image Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO)/Digitized Sky Survey 2

Acknowledgement: Davide de Martin
Release Date: March 3, 2010

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