Welcome to the Gould Belt survey Web page

The Herschel space observatory is a scientific mission of the European Space Agency (ESA). The space telescope is dedicated to the study of the cold universe by performing astronomical observations in the far infrared and submillimetre parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. The Gould Belt guaranteed time key programmes for the study of star formation with the PACS and SPIRE instruments focus on imaging star-forming regions in the Gould Belt. Regions such Taurus, rho-Ophiuchi will be studied. 460 hours are devoted to this programme.

19 avril 2013

Herschel and Hubble see the Horsehead in new light

The Horsehead Nebula lies in the constellation Orion, about 1300 light-years away, and is a popular target for amateur and professional astronomers alike. It sits just to the south of star Alnitak, the easternmost of Orion’s famous three-star belt, and is part of the vast Orion Molecular Cloud complex.