Reflection Nebula NGC 1999 in the Constellation Orion Space Wallpaper

By Space.com Staff
published

Reflection Nebula NGC 1999 in the Constellation Orion
The bright, young star left of center gives NGC 1999 its brightness. (Image credit: NASA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI) )

This cool space wallpaper shows the bright, young star left of center gives NGC 1999 its brightness. Reflection nebulae do not emit light on their own. They shine because of a light source embedded within, like a street lamp illuminates fog. The gas and dust of the nebula is left over from the star's formation.

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Space.com Staff
Space.com Staff
News and editorial team

Space.com is the premier source of space exploration, innovation and astronomy news, chronicling (and celebrating) humanity's ongoing expansion across the final frontier. Originally founded in 1999, Space.com is, and always has been, the passion of writers and editors who are space fans and also trained journalists. Our current news team consists of Editor-in-Chief Tariq Malik; Editor Hanneke Weitering, Senior Space Writer Mike Wall; Senior Writer Meghan Bartels; Senior Writer Chelsea Gohd, Senior Writer Tereza Pultarova and Staff Writer Alexander Cox, focusing on e-commerce. Senior Producer Steve Spaleta oversees our space videos, with Diana Whitcroft as our Social Media Editor.