Object Analysis

The Trifid of the North (NGC 1579) is a diffuse nebula located in the constellation Perseus. It is a reflection nebula that strongly resembles the more famous Trifid Nebula (M20) in Sagittarius, though it is located in the northern sky. It is about 2,100 light-years away from Earth.

While it looks like a standard emission nebula in photographs due to its red color, the light is actually being reflected from a very young, massive star (LkHα 101) embedded deep within the dust. The dust is so thick that it scatters the light in a way that emphasizes the red end of the spectrum, giving it its unique appearance.

LkHα 101 is a massive protostar that is still in the process of contracting. It is surrounded by a dense disk of gas and dust that may eventually form a planetary system. The nebula is also a source of strong infrared radiation, indicating that many more stars are hidden behind the obscuring dust lanes.