Celestial hemisphere:  Southern  ·  Constellation: Orion (Ori)  ·  Contains:  42 Ori)  ·  42 c Ori  ·  45 Ori  ·  46 Ori)  ·  46 eps Ori  ·  48 Ori  ·  48 sig Ori  ·  50 Ori)  ·  50 zet Ori  ·  Alnilam  ·  Alnitak  ·  B33  ·  Flame Nebula  ·  HD290570  ·  HD290573  ·  HD290574  ·  HD290581  ·  HD290582  ·  HD290588  ·  HD290600  ·  HD290602  ·  HD290603  ·  HD290605  ·  HD290607  ·  HD290608  ·  HD290618  ·  HD290619  ·  HD290633  ·  HD290634  ·  HD290635  ·  And 520 more.
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M78, Flame , Horsehead and Running Man Nebula, Harold Soto
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M78, Flame , Horsehead and Running Man Nebula

Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
M78, Flame , Horsehead and Running Man Nebula, Harold Soto
Powered byPixInsight

M78, Flame , Horsehead and Running Man Nebula

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Description

The Horsehead itself, also called B33, is a dark dust cloud expansion that is situated in front of IC-434, a massive curtain of incandescent hydrogen. The structure is significantly more expansive than what is visible in this picture. If you look closely, you may see the ridges and folds brought forth by magnetic and gravitational fields. 

Summary of facts about the Horsehead Nebula
  • The Horsehead nebula is about 1400 light years distant from Earth.
  • It can be found just south of the belt in the constellation Orion.
  • The Horsehead nebula is one of the most well-known astronomical objects because of its interesting shape.
  • The nebula has a dark appearance because of dense dust and hydrogen gas that block other stars behind it.
  • The iconic horse head image stands out because it is surrounded by the bright IC 434 nebula that is part of a larger nebula construct.
  • The Horsehead nebula is about 4 light years tall and 3 light years across.
  • In time, the nebula will be dispersed by ultraviolet light from stars in the vicinity.
  • A 2001 poll of amateur astronomers revealed that it was their favorite celestial object.

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M78, Flame , Horsehead and Running Man Nebula, Harold Soto