The right panel shows XMM-Newton data, compared to Spitzer observations of the same region. The Spitzer image is a composite image of data obtained in the infrared.

The Orion nebula is the nearest dense star-forming region to Earth that contains stars much more massive than the Sun. XMM-Newton’s newly-discovered gas cloud is composed of winds blowing from these high-mass stars that are heated to millions of degrees as they slam into the surrounding gas.

Credits: Panel A: XMM-Newton EPIC (Guedel et al.), Panel B: AAAS/Science (ESA XMM-Newton and NASA Spitzer data)

Panel C is an optical image obtained with the UK Schmidt telescope overlaid with XMM-Newton data. Panel D contains the same UK Schmidt telescope image with overlays of radio data from the Very Large Array.

Credits: Panel A: AAAS/Science (ESA XMM-Newton and NASA Spitzer data) B: NASA/ Spitzer, C: © Anglo-Australian Observatory/David Malin Images, D: © Anglo-Australian Observatory/David Malin Images, VLA