This is an infrared picture of the Orion Nebula taken by the Spitzer telescope. The nebula stretches 40 lightyears across and lies about 1,500 lightyears away. The spectacular hues in this photo are false, as our eyes cannot detect the, "color" of infrared wavelengths. What drew me to this picture were the vibrant green and red colors and the fact that this nebula, like many, serves as a nursery for developing stars. The red coloration in this photograph is indicative of protostars, or developing stars. The process through which stars form is fascinating, and this picture allows us to see it happen.
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