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The Horsehead nebula in Orion

auteur: R.Jay GaBany/Novapix

référence: a-nec04-34011

Image Size 300 DPI: 26 * 32 cm

The Horsehead nebula is located in the constellation of Orion, slightly below the left-most star of the three that form the Hunter's belt. It is part of a vast molecular cloud of dust and gas that includes the Great Orion Nebula and extends throughout the entire constellation as well. Here, we see the Horsehead as it appeared 1,500 years ago, due to distance and the time it takes light to travel. The bright complex of dust and gas below the Horsehead reflects the light given off by the bright star near it's center and is one of the brightest examples of reflection nebulae in the northern sky. The central star is surrounded with a thin shell of hydrogen that glows red by emitting it's own light in a rare example of a unique process called vibrational fluorescence.

Keywords for this photo:

2005 - ASTRONOMY - B33 - BARNARD 33 - DARK NEBULA - DIFFUSE NEBULA - EMISSION NEBULA - HORSEHEAD - IC 434 - IC 435 - MOLECULAR CLOUD - NEBULA - NGC 2023 - ORION - REFLECTION NEBULA - STAR - STAR FORMATION -