High-Resolution X-ray Observations of the Orion Nebula

Observations of the Trapezium region in the Orion Nebula obtained with the high-resolution x-ray imaging instrument on board the Einstein Observatory reveal at least 58 sources of x-ray emission. All but two of the sources can be identified with visible stars. The strongest x-ray source is the star θ ¹C, which excites the emission nebula. Its x-ray luminosity is 6 × 10³² ergs per second. The rest of the x-ray sources may be identified with stars of all spectral types. Strong x-ray emission is not observed from members of the infrared cluster embedded within the Orion molecular cloud.