"NASA's Breathtaking 3D View of Orion Nebula for Lunar New Year Celebration"
To mark the Chinese Lunar New Year, NASA shared a stunning three-dimensional and rotating image of the Orion Nebula, created using data from the SOFIA mission. The image, resembling a dragon, reveals the detailed structure of the nebula and a "bubble" blown clear of gas and dust by a powerful stellar wind. The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) mission has ended, but its data from 732 nights of observing are publicly available for further research. Each Chinese New Year is associated with a zodiac sign, and 2024 is the Year of the Dragon.