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Mark Fisher
1999-2008
Horsehead Nebula
Barnard 33
Proper Name
  Horsehead Nebula
NGC/IC Number
  Associated with IC 434
Other Designations
  Barnard 33
Constellation
  Orion
Right Ascension
  5h 41m 00s
Declination
  -2° 28' 4"
Distance
  c.1,550 light years
  c.475 parsecs
Dimensions
  Apparent: 1° 6' x 4'
  Actual: 2.7 x 1.8 light years
Optimum Visibility
  January
Location of the Horsehead Nebula
The famous dark Horsehead Nebula lies in the central regions of Orion. It is closely associated with Alnitak, the eastern star of Orion's Belt, and with nearby Sigma Orionis.

Large-scale view of the Horsehead Nebula
A view of the sky around the Horsehead Nebula. The dark shape of a horse's head is silhouetted against the red-pink nebula IC 434, near Alnitak in Orion's Belt (shown to the left of the nebula in this view).

Relative Galactic Position of the Horsehead Nebula
Like our Sun, the Horsehead Nebula lies in that part of the Galactic spiral known as the Orion Arm. It forms part of a complex collection of nebulae scattered throughout this part of the Galaxy, centred in the constellation of Orion.

A famous dark nebula in the constellation of Orion. A plume of obscuring dust takes a form very reminiscent of a horse's head, dark against a glowing background.

The Horsehead Nebula
This plume of dark material makes up one of the most recognisable objects in the night sky - the Horsehead Nebula in Orion. The horsehead shape is visible against the glowing pink of the emission nebula IC 434.
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