Wisps Surrounding the Horsehead Nebula
Image Credit & Copyright: Star Shadows Remote Observatory
Explanation: The famous Horsehead Nebula in Orion is not alone. A deep exposure shows that the
dark familiar shaped indentation, visible just below center, is part of a
vast complex of absorbing
dust and
glowing gas. To bring out details of the
Horsehead's pasture, amateur astronomers at the
Star Shadow Remote Observatory in
New Mexico,
USA fixed a
small telescope on the
region for over seven hours filtering out all but a
very specific color of red light emitted by
hydrogen. They then added the image to a full color frame taken over three hours. The
resulting spectacular picture details an intricate tapestry of gaseous wisps and dust-laden
filaments that were created and
sculpted over eons by
stellar winds and ancient
supernovas. The
Horsehead Nebula lies 1,500
light years distant towards the
constellation of
Orion. Two stars from the
Orion's Belt can be found in the
above image.
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