The Horsehead Nebula
Explanation:
One of the most identifiable nebulae 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 1500 years to reach us from the
Horsehead Nebula. The
above image was taken with the
0.9-meter telescope at
Kitt Peak National Observatory.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
