Flame Nebula

The Flame Nebula, designated as NGC 2024 and Sh2-277, is an emission nebula in the constellation Orion. It is about 900 to 1,500 light-years away.

This article is about the nebula in Orion. It is not to be confused with Flaming star nebula, a nebula in Auriga.
NGC 2024
Emission nebula
The Flame Nebula (NGC 2024) - based on Chandra X-Ray and Spitzer Infrared images.
Observation data: J2000.0 epoch
Right ascension05h 41m 54s
Declination−01° 51′ 0.0″
Distance1350[1] ly   (415 pc)
Apparent magnitude (V)10[2]
Apparent dimensions (V)30'x30'
ConstellationOrion
Physical characteristics
Radius6 ly
DesignationsNGC 2024 and Sharpless 277

The bright star Alnitak (ζ Ori), the easternmost star in the Belt of Orion, shines energetic ultraviolet light into the Flame and this knocks electrons away from the great clouds of hydrogen gas that reside there. Much of the glow results when the electrons and ionized hydrogen recombine. Additional dark gas and dust lies in front of the bright part of the nebula and this is what causes the dark network that appears in the center of the glowing gas. The Flame Nebula is part of the Orion molecular cloud complex, a star-forming region that includes the famous Horsehead Nebula.

At the center of the Flame Nebula is a cluster of newly formed stars,[3] 86% of which have circumstellar disks.[4] X-ray observations by the Chandra X-ray Observatory[5][6] show several hundred young stars, out of an estimated population of 800 stars.[7] X-ray and infrared images indicate that the youngest stars are concentrated near the center of the cluster.[8][9]

  • Optical image in B, V and R filters, from La Silla Observatory
    Optical image in B, V and R filters, from La Silla Observatory
  • Infrared image, from 2MASS
    Infrared image, from 2MASS
  • Near-infrared image, from VISTA
    Near-infrared image, from VISTA
  • Visible light wide-field view of region of Orion's Belt and the Flame Nebula
    Visible light wide-field view of region of Orion's Belt and the Flame Nebula
  • NGC 2024 seen by the Chandra X-ray Observatory
    NGC 2024 seen by the Chandra X-ray Observatory
  • Flame Nebula and Horsehead Nebula
    Flame Nebula and Horsehead Nebula
  • Horsehead and Flame Nebulae in H-alpha
    Horsehead and Flame Nebulae in H-alpha

References
  1. Meyer, M. R.; et al. (2008). "Star Formation in NGC 2023, NGC 2024, and Southern L1630". In Reipurth, B. (ed.). Handbook of Star Forming Regions, Volume II: The Southern Sky ASP Monograph Publications. Vol. 5. p. 43. Bibcode:2008hsf1.book..662M. ISBN 978-1-58381-670-7.
  2. "Is the Flame nebula easier to see than the Orion nebula?". stargazerslounge.com. Retrieved 2018-03-24.
  3. Haisch, K. E. Jr.; Lada, E. A.; Lada, C. J. (2000). "A Near-Infrared L-Band Survey of the Young Embedded Cluster NGC 2024". Astronomical Journal. 120 (2): 1396–1409. arXiv:astro-ph/0006219. Bibcode:2000AJ....120.1396H. doi:10.1086/301521. S2CID 18143699.
  4. Haisch, K. E. Jr.; et al. (2001). "A Mid-Infrared Study of the Young Stellar Population in the NGC 2024 Cluster". Astronomical Journal. 121 (3): 1512–1521. arXiv:astro-ph/0012482. Bibcode:2001AJ....121.1512H. doi:10.1086/319397. S2CID 1645511.
  5. Skinner, S.; Gagné, M.; Belzer, E. (2003). "A Deep Chandra X-Ray Observation of the Embedded Young Cluster in NGC 2024". Astrophysical Journal. 598 (1): 375–391. arXiv:astro-ph/0306566. Bibcode:2003ApJ...598..375S. doi:10.1086/378085. S2CID 18798394.
  6. Broos, P. S.; et al. (2013). "Identifying Young Stars in Massive Star-forming Regions for the MYStIX Project". Astrophysical Journal. 209 (2): 32. arXiv:1309.4500. Bibcode:2013ApJS..209...32B. doi:10.1088/0067-0049/209/2/32. S2CID 67827240.
  7. Kuhn, M. A.; Getman, K. V.; Feigelson, E. D. (2015). "The Spatial Structure of Young Stellar Clusters. II. Total Young Stellar Populations". Astrophysical Journal. 802 (1): 60. arXiv:1501.05300. Bibcode:2015ApJ...802...60K. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/802/1/60. S2CID 119309858.
  8. Getman, K. V.; Feigelson, E. D.; Kuhn, M. A. (2014). "Core-Halo Age Gradients and Star Formation in the Orion Nebula and NGC 2024 Young Stellar Clusters". Astrophysical Journal. 787 (2): 109. arXiv:1403.2742. Bibcode:2014ApJ...787..109G. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/787/2/109. S2CID 118503957.
  9. Nemiroff, R.; Bonnell, J., eds. (10 May 2014). "Inside the Flame Nebula". Astronomy Picture of the Day. NASA. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
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