HH 24-26

HH 24-26 is a molecular cloud and star-forming region containing the Herbig-Haro objects HH 24, HH 25 and HH 26. This region contains the highest concentration of astrophysical jets known anywhere in the sky.^[2] The molecular cloud is located about 1400 light-years away in the L1630 dark cloud, which is part of the Orion B molecular cloud in the constellation of Orion.^[3][4]

HH 24-26

Molecular cloud
Herbig-Haro object
McNeil's Nebula (top) HH 24 (middle), HBC 502 (blue star in the middle), HH 25 (below the blue star), HH 26 (red clouds at the bottom) and HH 27 (red cloud at the bottom left)
Observation data: J2000.0[1] epoch
Right ascension	05h 46m 07.34s[1]
Declination	−00° 13′ 31.3″[1]
Distance	1300 ly
Constellation	Orion
Designations	HH 24, HH 25, HH 26, JCMTSF J054607.3-001333, HH 24/26, HH 24-26, HH 24-27
See also: Lists of nebulae

The region contains multiple protostars (two class 0 and one class I) and four more evolved IRAS sources. The three protostars are driving the Herbig-Haro objects in this region.^[3]

Observation

The L1630 dark cloud also contains NGC 2071 and the Flame Nebula. HH 24-26 is located just a few arcminutes south of Messier 78.^[5]

HH 24

An image of HH 24 taken by the Hubble Space Telescope

The image of HH 24 taken by the Hubble Space Telescope is probably the most well known image of this Herbig-Haro object. HH 24 resembles a lightsaber from the science fiction movies Star Wars and the Hubble image was published during the release of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens.^[6]

HH 24 contains a class 0 protostar, which might be a proto-binary system. The disks around these objects are highly misaligned, which is a sign of turbulent fragmentation.^[7]

See also

• Astronomy Picture of the Day