Jump to content
  • Sign Up
×
×
  • Create New...
New feature: 1 Vote = 0.10€ for server Owner!

[NASA] Hubble Observes Stars Flaring to Life in Orion

SpaceMan

By SpaceMan,
in World News

 Share

Recommended Posts

  • Diamond Member
SpaceMan Hunter

SpaceMan 0

Posted
  • Diamond Member
Posted
Explore Hubble

3 min read

Hubble Observes Stars Flaring to Life in Orion

This is the hidden content, please
Protostar HOPS 181 is buried in layers of dusty gas clouds, but its energy shapes the material that surrounds it.
NASA, ESA, and T. Megeath (University of Toledo); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)
This is the hidden content, please
A protostar wrapped in obscuring dust creates a cavity with glowing walls while its jet streams into space.
NASA, ESA, and T. Megeath (University of Toledo); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)
This is the hidden content, please
A curving cavity in a cloud of gas has been hollowed out by a protostar in this Hubble image.
NASA, ESA, and T. Megeath (University of Toledo); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)









Just-forming stars, called protostars, dazzle a cloudy landscape in the Orion Molecular Cloud complex (OMC). These three new images from NASA’s

This is the hidden content, please
were taken as part of an effort to learn more about the envelopes of gas and dust surrounding the protostars, as well as the outflow cavities where stellar winds and jets from the developing stars have carved away at the surrounding gas and dust.

Scientists used these Hubble observations as part of a broader survey to study protostellar envelopes, or the gas and dust around the developing star. Researchers found no evidence that the outflow cavities were growing as the protostar moved through the later stages of star formation. They also found that the decreasing accretion of mass onto the protostars over time and the low rate of star formation in the cool, molecular clouds cannot be explained by the progressive clearing out of the envelopes.

The OMC lies within the “sword” of the constellation Orion, roughly 1,300 light-years away.

This is the hidden content, please
Protostar HOPS 181 is buried in layers of dusty gas clouds, but its energy shapes the material that surrounds it.
NASA, ESA, and T. Megeath (University of Toledo); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)

This Hubble image shows a small group of young stars amidst molecular clouds of gas and dust. Near the center of the image, concealed behind the dusty clouds, lies the protostar HOPS 181. The long, curved arc in the top left of the image is shaped by the outflow of material coming from the protostar, likely from the jets of particles shot out at high speeds from the protostar’s magnetic poles. The light of nearby stars reflects off and is scattered by dust grains that fill the image, giving the region its soft glow.

This is the hidden content, please
A protostar wrapped in obscuring dust creates a cavity with glowing walls while its jet streams into space.
NASA, ESA, and T. Megeath (University of Toledo); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)

The bright star in the lower right quadrant called CVSO 188 might seem like the diva in this image, but HOPS 310, located just to the left of center behind the dust, is the true hidden star. This protostar is responsible for the large cavity with bright walls that has been carved into the surrounding cloud of gas and dust by its jets and stellar winds. Running diagonally to the top right is one of the bipolar jets of the protostar. These jets consist of particles launched at high speeds from the protostar’s magnetic poles. Some background galaxies are visible in the upper right of the image.

This is the hidden content, please
A curving cavity in a cloud of gas has been hollowed out by a protostar in this Hubble image.
NASA, ESA, and T. Megeath (University of Toledo); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)

The bright protostar to the left in this Hubble image is located within the Orion Molecular Clouds. Its stellar winds — ejected, fast-flowing particles that are spurred by the star’s magnetic field — have carved a large cavity in the surrounding cloud. In the top right, background stars speckle the image.

New images added every day between January 12-17, 2026! Follow @NASAHubble on social media for the latest Hubble images and news and see

This is the hidden content, please
for more images of young stellar objects.

This is the hidden content, please
logo
This is the hidden content, please
This is the hidden content, please
This is the hidden content, please
logo
This is the hidden content, please

Explore More

Media Contact:

Claire Andreoli
NASA’s 

This is the hidden content, please
, Greenbelt, MD
*****@*****.tld

Share

Details

Last Updated
Jan 14, 2026
Location
This is the hidden content, please

Related Terms

This is the hidden content, please

0

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Vote for the server

    To vote for this server you must login.

    Jim Carrey Flirting GIF

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

Important Information

Privacy Notice: We utilize cookies to optimize your browsing experience and analyze website traffic. By consenting, you acknowledge and agree to our Cookie Policy, ensuring your privacy preferences are respected.

  I accept