Reconstructing the geometry of the Orion Nebula with spectroscopy
Gary Ferland (Kentucky)
I will describe the three-dimensional view of the Orion Nebula that has
resulted from extensive emission line spectroscopy. We view what is
basically a bowl that has been hollowed out by radiation pressure from
the Trapezium stars. The Trapezium stars are directly in front of this
bowl, which we view nearly face on. This special geometry hindered
understanding the Orion Nebula for many years, due to misapplication of
the Copernican Principle, the idea that we do not view the Universe from
a privileged position. In this case we do. The geometry has been
rendered as a 3D video, (and View Master slides) by the Hayden
Planetarium. I will conclude with this video.
