Exposures: 2 hours of Ha (15 minute subs)
This nebula is located just to the south of Alnitak, the farthest west star on Orion's Belt.
Ionized hydrogen gas behind the dark nebula is ignited by the nearby bright star Sigma Orinis. The darkness of the Horsehead is caused mostly by thick dust, although the lower part of the Horsehead's neck casts a shadow to the left. Streams of gas leaving the nebula are funneled by a strong magnetic field. Bright spots in the Horsehead Nebula's base are young stars just in the process of forming.
The Horsehead Nebula is approximately 1500 light years away.
(image reduced to 60% of original size)
FOV = 23 x 15 arc minutes
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