Trapezium Cluster  From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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search Trapezium cluster optical and infrared comparison.jpg
Trapezium in optical (left) and infrared light (right) from
Hubble. NASA photo. Observation data (J2000 epoch) Constellation
Orion Right ascension 05h 35.4m Declination −05° 27′ Distance
1.6 kly (490 pc) Apparent magnitude (V) 4.0 Apparent dimensions
(V) 47 (seconds of arc) Physical characteristics Mass M Radius
10 ly Estimated age 3 × 105 years  The Trapezium, or Orion
Trapezium Cluster, 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 February 4, 1617 he sketched
three of the stars (A, C, D), but missed the surrounding
nebulosity.[1][2][3] The fourth component (B) was identified by
several observers in 1673, and several more components were
discovered later, for a total of eight by 1888. Subsequently
several of the stars were determined to b