images

Horsehead and Orion nebulae

by

Anglo-Australian Observatory/David Malin Images/Novapix

Reference

a-neb19-76504

Date

2006-09-18

This wide-angle picture of the Orion region has been made to reveal the extensive network of very faint filaments which are traceable over most of the constellation. These faint features are optical evidence of a substantial dark cloud of molecular gas and dust which dominate at radio wavelengths. Where hot stars are closely associated with the molecular cloud, a bright nebula appears. By far the most conspicuous of these is the Orion Nebula, M42. This spectacular object is so bright that its light is reflected from filaments of the dark cloud some distance away. In contrast, the wisps of the Horsehead Nebula are much fainter but even here faint tendrils of nebulosity show that the nebula is much more extensive than is generally realised. All these objects are about 1500 light years distant.