The Orion Nebula, M-42, is a hot, thin cloud of glowing gas, so its spectrum is:
A)a continuum, strongest in the color red.
B)a few bright lines against a dark background.
C)a few dark lines in the continuum.
D)a continuum, but with both bright and dark lines mixed in.
E)not in the visible portion of the spectrum.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Orion Nebula is a hot, thin cloud of glowing gas, which typically produces an emission spectrum. This type of spectrum shows bright lines at specific wavelengths where the gas is emitting light. Therefore, option B is the best choice, as it describes a few bright lines against a dark background. The Orion Nebula is a hot, thin cloud of glowing gas, which means that it emits light at specific wavelengths, creating a spectral pattern with bright lines against a dark background. This is known as an emission spectrum, which is produced by excited atoms in the hot gas releasing energy in the form of light at specific wavelengths.

The Orion Nebula, M-42, Is a Hot, Thin Cloud of Glowing