Orion Nebula Animation - Infrared vs Optical - Spitzer Space Telescope Tribute
-------------------------------
As NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope is retiring on January 30th, 2020, the telescope which provided most of the data I use for my PhD research project, I thought I would create a comparison between Spitzer's Infrared image vs an Optical image of the Orion and Running Man Nebulae, as a small tribute.
In this GIF animation, I superimpose Spitzer's image, taken in infrared wavelengths, on an image taken by me, in optical wavelengths and combined into an HaRGB image.
The transition between the superimposed images clearly shows how Spitzer's ability to collect data in infrared enables us to observe previously unobservable parts of the Universe, by revealing interconnected structures of gas and clusters of stars hidden behind dark, obscuring dust.
-------------------------------
My original optical image and acquisition information:
-------------------------------
Spitzer image credits:
NASA/JPL-Caltech
Horsehead and Flame Nebula Spitzer Tribute:
Comments