Orion Nebula Messier 42 PopWallet tapestry ESO’s Very Large Telescope in

ESO’s Very Large Telescope in Chile has captured the most detailed image ever taken of the Medusa Nebula (also known Abell 21 and Sharpless 2-274)

The two distinct bright patches seen here in the night sky are the Large and Small Magellanic clouds

and cannot be seen in visible light

extending up to a ridge-forming layer called the Hematite Unit

flattened disk encircling the newborn star

Orion Nebula Messier 42 PopWallet tapestry ESO’s Very Large Telescope inThis wide field view shows a region of sky in the famous constellation of Orion (The Hunter), as seen in visible light. The large, bright feature at the top of the image is the well known Orion Nebula (Messier 42). This view was created from images forming part of the Digitized Sky Survey 2. Credit: ESO Digitized Sky Survey 2. Acknowledgement: Davide De Martin