Celestial hemisphere:  Southern  ·  Constellation: Orion (Ori)  ·  Contains:  Horsehead nebula  ·  IC 431  ·  IC 432  ·  IC 434  ·  NGC 2023  ·  NGC 2024  ·  The star Alnitak (ζOri)  ·  The star σOri
NGC 2024 (Flame Nebula) and Horsehead Nebula (IC 434), Keith Rawlings
NGC 2024 (Flame Nebula) and Horsehead Nebula (IC 434)
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NGC 2024 (Flame Nebula) and Horsehead Nebula (IC 434)

NGC 2024 (Flame Nebula) and Horsehead Nebula (IC 434), Keith Rawlings
NGC 2024 (Flame Nebula) and Horsehead Nebula (IC 434)
Powered byPixInsight

NGC 2024 (Flame Nebula) and Horsehead Nebula (IC 434)

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Description

The Flame Nebula, designated as NGC 2024, is a classic example of an emission nebula in the constellation Orion. It is about 900 to 1,500 light-years away. The Horsehead Nebula, designated as IC 434, however, is a dark nebula which can only be seen because it's blocking starlight from behind it.



The bright starAlnitak (ζ Ori), the easternmost star in the Belt of Orion, shines energetic ultraviolet light into the Flame and this knocks electrons away from the great clouds of hydrogen gas that reside there. Much of the glow results when the electrons and ionized hydrogen recombine. Additional dark gas and dust lies in front of the bright part of the nebula and this is what causes the dark network that appears in the center of the glowing gas. The Flame Nebula is part of the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex, a star-forming region that includes the famous Horsehead Nebula.

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NGC 2024 (Flame Nebula) and Horsehead Nebula (IC 434), Keith Rawlings