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Credit & Copyright: Data: Giuseppe Carmine Iaffaldano;
Processing: Roberto Colombari
Explanation:
Sculpted by stellar winds and
radiation, a magnificent
interstellar dust cloud by
chance has assumed this recognizable shape.
Fittingly named the
Horsehead
Nebula, it is some 1,500 light-years distant,
embedded in the vast Orion cloud complex.
About five light-years "tall", the
dark cloud is cataloged
as
Barnard 33
and is visible only because its
obscuring dust is silhouetted
against the glowing red
emission nebula IC 434.
Stars are forming within the dark cloud.
Contrasting blue
reflection nebula
NGC 2023, surrounding a hot, young star,
is at the lower left.
The gorgeous
featured image
combines both narrowband and broadband images.
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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: Horsehead Nebula - dark nebula - reflection nebula
Publications with words: Horsehead Nebula - dark nebula - reflection nebula
See also: