Palomar in Science Fiction - V

Hey, its August (OK, its been August for a while already.), so I thought I would give you a classic Palomar magazine cover from the August, 1962 issue of Analog:

That's the Orion Nebula (M42) as photographed by the 200-inch Hale Telescope in 1959. I haven't seen the inside, so I don't know if "SPACE IS NOT BLACK" is an article on the inside or just a caption for the photo.

The Orion Nebula is a pretty interesting place as the nebula is in the process of forming an impressive star cluster. All of that is revealed when you examine it in the infrared. Compare the image on the magazine cover above with this modern near-infrared image of the Orion Nebula also taken with the Hale:


The infrared view can look into the nebula, revealing the cluster within. It doesn't look much like the first picture, does it?

By the way Analog Science Fiction and Fact has been around for quite a while and it still around today.

Yes, I realize that this makes for a pretty weak installment of Palomar in Science Fiction (maybe it should have been Palomar on Science Fiction). I have got some way cool things in the wings for future Palomar in Science Fiction posts. Stay tuned.