Infrared/visible comparison of the full VISTA Orion Nebula image

The left-hand panel shows the Orion Nebula in visible light. Most of the light from the spectacular clouds comes from hydrogen gas glowing under the fierce ultraviolet glare from the central hot young stars. The region above the centre is clearly obscured by dust clouds. On the right the VISTA infrared view is shown. By observing infrared light many new features appear, including large numbers of young stars close to the centre and many curious red objects, associated with young stars and their outflows, in the region above the centre.