Horsehead Nebula Widefield

This image shows part of the Orion molecular cloud complex, with the star-forming regions of the Orion Nebula (M42) in the top-right section. Older stars forming Orion’s Belt are also shown.

In the centre of the image lies the Horsehead Nebula (Barnard 33): a cold, dark cloud of gas and dust casting a shadow against the ionized hydrogen gas, illuminated by the bright star system Sigma Orionis (above the horse’s head). To the left (in this image) of the Horsehead is the star-forming Flame Nebula (NGC 2024), and between the Horsehead and Flame Nebulae lies NGC 2023, an emission and reflection nebula.