THE STRUCTURE OF THE ORION NEBULA

The Orion nebula is the best studied of all H ii regions. The experimental data of this nebula are reviewed, and interpretive models of the structure of both the nebula and its environs are developed. The HII region is composed of an inner 3' core surrounding the exciting star θ¹C which is part...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific 1974-10, Vol.86 (513), p.616-634
Main Authors: BALICK, BRUCE, GAMMON, R. H., HJELLMING, R. M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Flow velocity
Gas density
Hydrogen
Ionization
Ionized gases
Molecular clouds
Nebulae
Neutral gases
Stars
Velocity
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Summary:The Orion nebula is the best studied of all H ii regions. The experimental data of this nebula are reviewed, and interpretive models of the structure of both the nebula and its environs are developed. The HII region is composed of an inner 3' core surrounding the exciting star θ¹C which is partially imbedded on the near side of a massive neutral complex. A network of strong flows results that resupplies high-density ionized gas to the core region. Gas in the core then freely expands where possible, primarily into the foreground, south, and west. Details of this model are compared with optical, radio, and infrared observations of the ionized, neutral atomic, and molecular gas in the Orion nebula. The nature of the neutral complex is also discussed.
ISSN:0004-6280
1538-3873
DOI:10.1086/129654