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The Horsehead nebula is one of the most
famous nebulae in the night sky. Also known as Barnard 33, it is a large
dark molecular cloud located in the belt of Orion the Hunter. It is a
part of the much larger gaseous region that covers a majority of the constellation.
The Horsehead nebula is dark due to the opaque dust cloud, which lies
in front of the bright diffuse nebula. The diffuse nebula is a result
of electrons and protons combining to form hydrogen atoms that are ionized
by the ultraviolet radiation from the nearby star Sigma Orionis (Copyright
Anglo-Australian Observatory)
Animation of Contrast
Object |
Distance from Earth |
Wavelength |
Horsehead Nebula |
1,500
light years |
Optical |
