Constellation: Orion

Distance: 1500 Light Years

A cloud of interstellar dust, forming the shape of a horse's head, is designated B33, the most famous of the catalog of dark nebulae compiled by Edward Barnard in the early 20th century. It obscures light from the luminous red hydrogen emission nebula IC 434 behind it. To the left of this photograph is NGC 2024, also called the Flame Nebula, another hydrogen emission cloud glowing orange in the shape of a burning bush. Between the Flame and the Horsehead is the bright reflection nebula NGC 2023, a cloud of dust reflecting blue light from a central star. The brightest blue star, toward the left of this image, is Alnitak, the left-most of the 3 stars that comprise Orion's "belt".