B 33 - Horsehead Nebula

B33, the Horsehead Nebula, is a prominent dark nebula in the constellation Orion, embedded within the extended emission nebula IC 434. Its distance from Earth is estimated at about 1,500 light-years. With a diameter of roughly 3.5 light-years, the nebula is a relatively small but highly contrast-rich object in the sky.

Characteristic of the Horsehead Nebula is its striking horsehead-shaped silhouette, formed by an accumulation of cold gas and dust that strongly absorbs the background light of the emission nebula IC 434.

Shooting Data