from a spaceship

branzzz · Post by **branzzz** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 7:21 am

if lets say we were in a spaceship flying near the orion nebula, would we be able to look out the window and see with our own eyes the beauty of the entire gas cloud? or would such views be beyond the capability of the human eye and can only be captured on long exposures?

Area503 · Post by **Area503** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 4:21 pm

I think you might not be able to see it for different reasons. therotically, u should be able to see it as the amount of light emitted by the nebula captured by your eyes should be much higher than the amount of light captured on a long exposure film. However, i think it would be too bright to be seen with a unaided eye.

Post by **zong** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 10:22 pm

As long as the light isn't of non-visible wavelength (infrared or radio), you can see it. Whether it's too bright, you didn't ask me, so don't blame me if you go blind

I don't know if it's too bright, anyway, so I can't tell you. But I can tell you that going there is still an engineering feat, so you won't need to worry about going blind for now. ^^

Post by **Airconvent** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 12:37 am

It should be very bright. Imagine we are so far away and we can still see it!
Also the gas cloud would be enormous and not forgetting the debris that will eventually form planets and the intense radiation at all wavelengths, etc. I think you would probably get by see a spectacular view if you can half or quarter the distance to Orion from Earth.