Panning across the VISTA infrared view of the Orion Nebula

This pan across VISTA’s view of the Orion Nebula gives a closer look at many of the details. This glowing cloud of gas, also known as Messier 42, is a vast stellar nursery lying about 1350 light-years from the Earth. The VISTA telescope’s huge field of view allows it to image the whole nebula and its surroundings in a single picture and its infrared vision also means that it can peer deep into the normally hidden dusty regions and reveal the curious antics of the very active young stars buried there.