"θ1 Orionis" redirects here. For other stars with this Bayer designation, see θ Orionis.
The Trapezium or Orion Trapezium Cluster, also known by its Bayer designation of Theta1 Orionis, is a tight open cluster of stars in the heart of the Orion Nebula, in the constellation of Orion. It was discovered by Galileo Galilei. On 4 February 1617 he sketched three of the stars (A, C and D), but missed the surrounding nebulosity.[2][3][4] A fourth component (B) was identified by several observers in 1673, and several more components were discovered later like E, for a total of eight by 1888. Subsequently, several of the stars were determined to be binaries. Telescopes of amateur astronomers from about 5-inch (130 mm) aperture can resolve six stars under good seeing conditions.[5]
Trapezium
Trapezium in optical (left) and infrared light (right) from Hubble. NASA photo
The Trapezium is a relatively young cluster that has formed directly out of the parent nebula. The five brightest stars are on the order of 15 to 30 solar masses in size. They are within a diameter of 1.5 light-years of each other and are responsible for much of the illumination of the surrounding nebula. The Trapezium may be a sub-component of the larger Orion Nebula Cluster, a grouping of about 2,000 stars within a diameter of 20 light-years.
The Trapezium is most readily identifiable by the asterism of four relatively bright stars for which it is named. The four are often identified as A, B, C and D in order of increasing right ascension. The brightest of the four stars is C, or Theta1 Orionis C, with an apparent magnitude of 5.13. Both A and B have been identified as eclipsing binaries.
Infrared images of the Trapezium are better able to penetrate the surrounding clouds of dust, and have located many more stellar components. About half the stars within the cluster have been found to contain evaporating circumstellar disks, a likely precursor to planetary formation. In addition, brown dwarfs and low-mass runaway stars have been identified.
Possible black holeEdit
A 2012 paper suggests an intermediate-mass black hole with a mass more than 100 times that of the Sun may be present within the Trapezium, something that could explain the large velocity dispersion of the stars of the cluster.[6]
One of the components of the cluster (Theta1 Orionis F, lower left) is a double star.[7]
^ Reid, M. J.; et al. (2009). "Trigonometric Parallaxes of Massive Star Forming Regions: VI. Galactic Structure, Fundamental Parameters and Non-Circular Motions". Astrophysical Journal. 700: 137–148. arXiv:0902.3913. Bibcode:2009ApJ...700..137R. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/700/1/137. S2CID 11347166.
^Galileo Galilei: Siderius Nuncius, Venice, 1610. English Translation published at Bard College, Hudson NY" October 9, 2003 English Translation [1] 2004-07-06 at the Wayback Machine Original Latin version [2]
^Tom Pope and Jim Mosher: Galilean telescope homepage" March 17, 2006 . Archived from the original on 2008-01-30. Retrieved 2008-01-30., "Some have expressed puzzlement that in his text Galileo does not mention the nebulosity (known in modern nomenclature as M42) enveloping these stars. ... Galileo believed, as he explains in Sidereus Nuncius, that what looks nebulous to the eye is resolved into stars by his telescope; what looks nebulous through his telescope could presumably also be resolved into stars by a still larger and more powerful telescope. Hence, a diffuse glow would be, more than anything, an indication of the limitations of his telescope and not particularly worthy of special note."
^Tom Pope and Jim Mosher: Page on Galileo's February 4, 1617 notebook drawing of the Trapezium region, May 2, 2006 "Perhaps significantly, Galileo makes no mention of having noticed the now well-known gas cloud, M42, surrounding the Trapezium stars."[3] 2011-08-11 at the Wayback Machine
^"Trapezium Cluster". 15 May 2015. Retrieved 2018-03-06.
^Šubr, L.; Kroupa, P.; Baumgardt, H. (2012-09-04). "Catch me if you can: is there a "runaway-mass" black hole in the Orion Nebula Cluster?". The Astrophysical Journal. 757 (1): 37. arXiv:1209.2114. Bibcode:2012ApJ...757...37S. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/757/1/37. S2CID 118549761.
^"First Light For Future Black Hole Probe". Retrieved 15 January 2016.
Further readingEdit
Lada, E. A.; et al. (1996). "Circumstellar Disks in the Trapezium Cluster". Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society. 28: 1342. Bibcode:1996AAS...189.5301L.
Poveda, Arcadio; et al. (2005). "Low-Mass Runaway Stars from the Orion Trapezium Cluster". Astrophysical Journal. 627 (1): L61–L64. arXiv:astro-ph/0506002. Bibcode:2005ApJ...627L..61P. doi:10.1086/432053. S2CID 1145928.
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Trapezium (astronomy).
Chandra Observatory Uncovers Hot Stars In The Making, MIT Press Release, 2000.
trapezium, cluster, orionis, redirects, here, other, stars, with, this, bayer, designation, orionis, trapezium, orion, also, known, bayer, designation, theta1, orionis, tight, open, cluster, stars, heart, orion, nebula, constellation, orion, discovered, galile. 81 Orionis redirects here For other stars with this Bayer designation see 8 Orionis The Trapezium or Orion Trapezium Cluster also known by its Bayer designation of Theta1 Orionis is a tight open cluster of stars in the heart of the Orion Nebula in the constellation of Orion It was discovered by Galileo Galilei On 4 February 1617 he sketched three of the stars A C and D but missed the surrounding nebulosity 2 3 4 A fourth component B was identified by several observers in 1673 and several more components were discovered later like E for a total of eight by 1888 Subsequently several of the stars were determined to be binaries Telescopes of amateur astronomers from about 5 inch 130 mm aperture can resolve six stars under good seeing conditions 5 TrapeziumTrapezium in optical left and infrared light right from Hubble NASA photoObservation data J2000 epoch Right ascension05h 35 4mDeclination 05 27 Distance1 344 20 ly 412 pc 1 Apparent magnitude V 4 0Apparent dimensions V 47 seconds of arc Physical characteristicsMass M Radius10 lyEstimated age300 000 yearsAssociationsConstellationOrionSee also Open cluster List of open clustersThe Trapezium is a relatively young cluster that has formed directly out of the parent nebula The five brightest stars are on the order of 15 to 30 solar masses in size They are within a diameter of 1 5 light years of each other and are responsible for much of the illumination of the surrounding nebula The Trapezium may be a sub component of the larger Orion Nebula Cluster a grouping of about 2 000 stars within a diameter of 20 light years Contents 1 Identification 2 Possible black hole 3 List of stars 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksIdentification EditThe Trapezium is most readily identifiable by the asterism of four relatively bright stars for which it is named The four are often identified as A B C and D in order of increasing right ascension The brightest of the four stars is C or Theta1 Orionis C with an apparent magnitude of 5 13 Both A and B have been identified as eclipsing binaries Infrared images of the Trapezium are better able to penetrate the surrounding clouds of dust and have located many more stellar components About half the stars within the cluster have been found to contain evaporating circumstellar disks a likely precursor to planetary formation In addition brown dwarfs and low mass runaway stars have been identified Possible black hole EditA 2012 paper suggests an intermediate mass black hole with a mass more than 100 times that of the Sun may be present within the Trapezium something that could explain the large velocity dispersion of the stars of the cluster 6 nbsp One of the components of the cluster Theta1 Orionis F lower left is a double star 7 nbsp The Chandra X ray Observatory view of the Orion Nebula nbsp Trapezium star identification nbsp Hubble detail of a region west of the Trapezium showing arcs and bubbles formed when stellar winds collide with existing interstellar material nbsp A wider shot of the core details showing the trapezium in context of the surrounding nebulae nbsp Core detail of the nebula with all the stars identifiedList of stars EditMain article Theta Orionis Star Stellar componentsA A1 A2 A3B B1 B2 B3 B4 B5C C1 C2D E E1 E2F G H References Edit Reid M J et al 2009 Trigonometric Parallaxes of Massive Star Forming Regions VI Galactic Structure Fundamental Parameters and Non Circular Motions Astrophysical Journal 700 137 148 arXiv 0902 3913 Bibcode 2009ApJ 700 137R doi 10 1088 0004 637X 700 1 137 S2CID 11347166 Galileo Galilei Siderius Nuncius Venice 1610 English Translation published at Bard College Hudson NY October 9 2003 English Translation 1 Archived 2004 07 06 at the Wayback Machine Original Latin version 2 Tom Pope and Jim Mosher Galilean telescope homepage March 17 2006 The Trapezium Through the Galilean Telescope Archived from the original on 2008 01 30 Retrieved 2008 01 30 Some have expressed puzzlement that in his text Galileo does not mention the nebulosity known in modern nomenclature as M42 enveloping these stars Galileo believed as he explains in Sidereus Nuncius that what looks nebulous to the eye is resolved into stars by his telescope what looks nebulous through his telescope could presumably also be resolved into stars by a still larger and more powerful telescope Hence a diffuse glow would be more than anything an indication of the limitations of his telescope and not particularly worthy of special note Tom Pope and Jim Mosher Page on Galileo s February 4 1617 notebook drawing of the Trapezium region May 2 2006 Perhaps significantly Galileo makes no mention of having noticed the now well known gas cloud M42 surrounding the Trapezium stars 3 Archived 2011 08 11 at the Wayback Machine Trapezium Cluster 15 May 2015 Retrieved 2018 03 06 Subr L Kroupa P Baumgardt H 2012 09 04 Catch me if you can is there a runaway mass black hole in the Orion Nebula Cluster The Astrophysical Journal 757 1 37 arXiv 1209 2114 Bibcode 2012ApJ 757 37S doi 10 1088 0004 637X 757 1 37 S2CID 118549761 First Light For Future Black Hole Probe Retrieved 15 January 2016 Further reading EditLada E A et al 1996 Circumstellar Disks in the Trapezium Cluster Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 28 1342 Bibcode 1996AAS 189 5301L Poveda Arcadio et al 2005 Low Mass Runaway Stars from the Orion Trapezium Cluster Astrophysical Journal 627 1 L61 L64 arXiv astro ph 0506002 Bibcode 2005ApJ 627L 61P doi 10 1086 432053 S2CID 1145928 External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Trapezium astronomy Chandra Observatory Uncovers Hot Stars In The Making MIT Press Release 2000 Astronomy Picture of the Day In the Center of the Trapezium 2003 March 2 Observing the Trapezium Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Trapezium Cluster amp oldid 1179951728, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
