Flame and Horsehead nebula in Orion

This image shows several items in Orion. The object at the upper left is the Flame nebula, NGC2024. Just to the right of this (at the top of the image) is the star zeta Orionis or Alnitak. The red swatch to the left of this that descends to the right is the nebula IC434. The horsehead dark nebula, B33, can be seen in this nebula. Below the horse, one can see the nebula NGC2023 with the nebula IC435 below that.

The horsehead is made up of a cloud of dark matter and dust that hides the stars from view. In fact, if one compares the star density above and below IC434, it can be seen that this area is rich in dust. The horsehead is about 1 light year in diameter and about 1200 light years away..

Images taken with TEC-140 Telescope mounted on Losmandy G11 mount. Camera used was a Canon EOS20D used at prime focus.

Ten 3 minute exposures dark compensated, aligned and stacked, background removed and Digitaly Developed in ImagesPlus 2.50 beta 2.