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◀ MEDIUM-SIZED
TELESCOPE VIEW
The nebula’s shape and
form become visible through
a telescope with a mirror about
20 cm (7.8 in) across. A camera
attached to the telescope collects
the light and records the image.VIEW FROM SPACE ▶
Some telescopes collect forms of energy
other than light, such as radio waves,
X-rays, and infrared energy. Earth’s
atmosphere prevents some of these from
reaching Earth so they are collected by
telescopes in space. This colour-enhanced
image combines data from two space
telescopes – Spitzer, which collects
infrared waves, and Hubble, which
collects both light and ultraviolet waves.HEART OF THE NEBULA ▶
Hubble’s 2.4-m (7.9-ft) wide mirror
collected the light for this detailed view of
the Orion Nebula’s bright central area. It
includes the Trapezium, a cluster of ten
young, brilliant stars that illuminate the
nebula with their ultraviolet energy.X-RAY AND
INFRARED VIEWS ▲
X-rays collected by the
Chandra space telescope
were used to make this image on the left, which
shows the heart of the Orion Nebula. The image
on the right shows the same area taken by the
Spitzer infrared telescope. Clouds of dust heated
by starlight show up in red.About 1,000 young
stars are visible in
this view because of
the X-rays they emit146_147_Telescopes.indd 147 03/01/19 12:10 PM