The Horsehead Nebula was officially discovered by Scottish astronomer Williamina Fleming in 1888 and cataloged by E. E. Barnard in 1894. Located at the center of the frame, the Horsehead is a dark molecular cloud that sits in front of the bright emission nebula IC 434 and lies next to Alnitak, the lowest star in Orion’s Belt. The fiery-looking nebula below Altinak is the Flame Nebula, which blazes from the light of the open cluster within it. Although the Horsehead region seems quite large, it is only a small fragment of the entire Orion Molecular Cloud Complex, an immense star forming region that spans hundreds of light years across.
Acquisition Date: December 7, 2020–January 1, 2021
Acquisition Site: Backyard
Image Details: 140 x 150s (5h 50m)
Equipment: ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro, Takahashi FSQ-106EDXIII, AP1200GTO and AP900GTO, Radian Triad Ultra Filter 2″