Celestial hemisphere:  Southern  ·  Constellation: Orion (Ori)  ·  Contains:  Horsehead nebula  ·  IC 432  ·  IC 434  ·  IC 435  ·  NGC 2023  ·  NGC 2024  ·  The star Alnitak (ζOri)  ·  The star σOri
Horsehead nebula (Barnard 33) in HaRGB, Prabhakar
Horsehead nebula (Barnard 33) in HaRGB
Powered byPixInsight

Horsehead nebula (Barnard 33) in HaRGB

Equipment

Loading...

Acquisition details

Loading...

Description

The Horsehead Nebula (also known as Barnard 33 in emission nebula IC 434) is a dark nebula in the constellation Orion. The nebula is located just to the south of the star Alnitak, which is farthest east on Orion's Belt, and is part of the much larger Orion Molecular Cloud Complex. The nebula was first recorded in 1888 by Scottish astronomer Williamina Fleming on photographic plate B2312 taken at the Harvard College Observatory. The Horsehead Nebula is approximately 1500 light years from Earth. It is one of the most identifiable nebulae because of the shape of its swirling cloud of dark dust and gases, which bears some resemblance to a horse's head when viewed from Earth.

The dark cloud of dust and gas is a region in the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex where star formation is taking place. This stellar nursery, as it is known, can contain over 100 known organic and inorganic gases as well as dust consisting of large and complex organic molecules.

The red or pinkish glow originates from hydrogen gas predominantly behind the nebula, ionized by the nearby bright star Sigma Orionis. Magnetic fields channel the gases leaving the nebula into streams, shown as streaks in the background glow.[3] A glowing strip of hydrogen gas marks the edge of the massive cloud and the densities of stars are noticeably different on either side.

----------------------

Ha Imaged from Weston, South Florida.

RGB from Kissimmee Prairie State Park, Florida.

Ver 1 - Ha processed version

Ver 2 - Ha + RGB.

Comments

Revisions

  • Horsehead nebula (Barnard 33) in HaRGB, Prabhakar
    Original
  • Final
    Horsehead nebula (Barnard 33) in HaRGB, Prabhakar
    B

Sky plot

Sky plot

Histogram

Horsehead nebula (Barnard 33) in HaRGB, Prabhakar