Flame Nebula

Pierre Moutounet-Cartan
Feb 3
2 min read

Updated: Feb 24

#NGC2024 or #PMC22

About this object

The Flame Nebula, or NGC 2024, is a fascinating region of star formation located in the Orion B molecular cloud complex, approximately 1,350 light-years from Earth. This emission nebula is primarily composed of ionized hydrogen (H II), which glows red due to the recombination of electrons with protons, emitting H-alpha radiation at a wavelength of 656.3 nanometers. The nebula's striking appearance is shaped by dark, obscuring dust lanes that absorb background light, creating the illusion of "flames." At its core lies a young, embedded star cluster, with massive O- and B-type stars producing intense ultraviolet radiation that ionizes the surrounding gas. Infrared observations, particularly from the Spitzer Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope, have revealed a wealth of protostars and pre-main-sequence stars within the dense molecular clouds of NGC 2024, indicating active star formation. The nebula's dynamics are further influenced by feedback processes, such as stellar winds and radiation pressure, which sculpt the gas and dust into intricate structures. Additionally, studies of the region's magnetic fields, using polarimetric data, suggest that they play a significant role in regulating star formation by channeling material and influencing the collapse of molecular clouds. The Flame Nebula serves as a critical laboratory for understanding the physics of star formation, the interplay between radiation and molecular clouds, and the evolution of young stellar clusters.