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Credit & Copyright: George Chatzifrantzis
Explanation:
The famous Horsehead Nebula in Orion is not alone.
A deep exposure shows that the
dark familiar shaped indentation,
visible just right of center, is part of a
vast complex of absorbing
dust and
glowing gas.
The featured
spectacular picture details an intricate
tapestry of gaseous wisps and dust-laden
filaments that were created and sculpted over eons by
stellar winds and ancient
supernovas.
The Flame Nebula is visible in orange just to the Horsehead's
left.
To highlight the dust and gas, most of the
stars have been
digitally removed, although a notable exception is
Alnitak,
just above the Flame Nebula, which is the rightmost star in
Orion's famous belt of three aligned stars.
The Horsehead Nebula
lies 1,500 light years
distant towards the
constellation of Orion.
NASA Coverage:
Artemis
I Mission to the Moon
Teachers & Students:
Ideas for utilizing APOD in the classroom
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Orion
Publications with words: Orion
See also:
- APOD: 2026 January 28 Á M78: Reflecting Blue in a Sea of Red
- APOD: 2026 January 27 Á Orions Treasures over Snowy Mountains
- Alnitak, Alnilam, Mintaka
- A December Winter Night
- APOD: 2024 January 31 Á Camera Orion Rising
- APOD: 2024 January 16 Á The Orion You Can Almost See
- APOD: 2023 January 25 Á LDN 1622: The Boogeyman Nebula