Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates/Image:Sig07-006.jpg

Star formation in Orion[edit]

Reason: Star formation in the Orion constellation. This high quality image has scientific value and esthetic merit.
Caption: This image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope shows infant stars "hatching" in the head of the hunter constellation, Orion. Astronomers suspect that shockwaves from a supernova explosion in Orion's head, nearly three million years ago, may have initiated this newfound birth.

The region featured in this Spitzer image is called Barnard 30. It is located approximately 1,300 light-years away and sits on the right side of Orion's head, just north of the massive star Lambda Orionis.

Wisps of red in the cloud are organic molecules called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). PAHs are formed anytime carbon-based materials are burned incompletely. On Earth, they can be found in the sooty exhaust from automobile and airplane engines. They also coat the grills where charcoal-broiled meats are cooked.

This image shows infrared light captured by Spitzer's infrared array camera. Light with wavelengths of 8 and 5.8 microns (red and orange) comes mainly from dust that has been heated by starlight. Light of 4.5 microns (green) shows hot gas and dust; and light of 3.6 microns (blue) is from starlight.
Articles this image appears in: Orion (constellation)
Creator: NASA Spitzer Space Telescope

Support as nominator Durova^Charge! 17:55, 15 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. Some of the red parts are artifacted. --Malachirality (talk) 18:17, 15 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Support per nom--Mbz1 (talk) 22:20, 15 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
There's a TIFF version (9MB) if anyone wants it to recompress this image. MER-C 02:28, 16 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Support per nom-- Sagredo^Discussione? 03:50, 16 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Weak Oppose Minor artifact problems, should be cleaned up. --Shark face 217 22:44, 16 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Weak Oppose: In my opinion it really looks unnatural. —αἰτίας •discussion• 17:28, 18 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Not promoted MER-C 08:40, 22 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]