The Horsehead Nebula

The Horsehead Nebula

Image Credit & Copyright:
Alex Lin
(Chilescope)

Explanation:
One of the most identifiable nebulas in the sky,
the Horsehead Nebula in Orion, is part of a large, dark,
molecular cloud.

Also known as Barnard 33, the unusual shape was first
discovered on a
photographic plate in the late 1800s.

The red glow originates from
hydrogen
gas predominantly behind the nebula, ionized by the nearby bright star
Sigma Orionis.

The darkness of the
Horsehead is caused mostly by thick
dust,
although the lower part of the
Horsehead‘s neck casts a
shadow to the left.

Streams of gas leaving
the nebula are funneled by a strong
magnetic field.

Bright spots in the
Horsehead Nebula‘s base are young stars just in the
process of forming.

Light takes about 1,500 years to reach us from the
Horsehead Nebula.

The featured image was taken from the
Chilescope Observatory in the
mountains of
Chile.