January 24, 2024

Horsehead and Flame Nebula

This is the Horsehead Nebula (Barnard 33) and the Flame Nebula (NGC 2024). The data for this image was captured in January 2023 and 2024. It is located right next to Alnitak (the brightest star in the image), which is the easternmost (left) star of Orion’s belt. The nebula is a dust and gas cloud site of star formation, blocking the light from the hydrogen emissions behind it. The Horsehead Nebula is part of the larger IC434 nebula, an ionized hydrogen region emitting deep red light. Magnetic fields channel gasses into streams, visible as streaks against the glow of the ionized hydrogen. The Horsehead Nebula is my favorite nebula.

RA: 5h40m55.753s
DEC: -02°24′21.57"