APOD 4.7

The Flame Nebula is part of the star forming region in Orion near the belt. This x-ray image allows viewers to see through the dust to newly formed stars and embedded cluster NGC 2024. Youngest stars are located in the center, which does not fall in step with most theories on star formation, as the younger stars would begin to move away from the center, leaving the older, dense stars in the middle. Perhaps this is the beginning of that process.