The Orion Nebula is a huge molecular hydrogen nebula with active star formation occurring. Residing at about 1,400 light years distant, the nebula is the closest site of massive star formation to the Solar System. In the image, blue region is a product of bright starlight emit from the high mass stars formed in the nebula. These blue stars blaze their light into the nebula, illuminating the hydrogen gas. The red regions are a product of intense ultraviolet light emit from the same high mass stars. The ultraviolet light ionizes neutral hydrogen atoms in the gas cloud. Once the hydrogen nuclei recombine with their lost electrons they emit a photo upon returning to a low energy state.
This image of Messier 42 - The Orion Nebula was captured at Frosty Drew Observatory by Scott MacNeill on January 29, 2016.