The Horsehead Nebula, also known as Barnard 33, is a small, dark nebula located in the constellation Orion. Its iconic shape, resembling a horse’s head, is visible in silhouette against the vibrant red background of ionized hydrogen gas in the larger Orion Molecular Cloud Complex. Approximately 1,500 light-years away from Earth, the nebula owes its striking appearance to thick clouds of interstellar dust and gas that block light from behind. Ultraviolet radiation from nearby stars, particularly from the bright star Alnitak in Orion’s Belt, illuminates and energizes the surrounding gas, creating a dramatic interplay of light and shadow.
I have to admit that managing the bright flares of Alnitak and Alnilam (which is outside of this field of view) was not the easiest task. At the end I decided to blend most affected parts in the green and blue channels with the Ha channel which was the cleanest.
EDIT: Happy to see that this image was featured as an AAPOD2 on the 15th of December 2024.
Technical Details
Frames:
- Blue: 29×300″ (2h 25′)
- Green: 31×300″ (2h 35′)
- H-alpha 3nm: 63×600″ (10h 30′)
- Luminance: 35×300″ (2h 55′)
- Red: 33×300″ (2h 45′)
Total Integration: 21h 10′
Equipment:
- Sky-Watcher Esprit 100ED
- ZWO ASI2600MM Pro
- ZWO AM5
You can find this image also posted on my astrobin profile.
Sky Plot
If you are curious to know where the Horse Head Nebula is located, you can use this interactive Sky Plot built by Aladine Lite.