Waid Observatory

Object: IC 434
Date: 11/20/2004 - Location: Margate, Florida
Telescope: Celestron 102mm - Camera: ST-10XME
Exposure: R = L = 40 min. R,G & B = 20 min. each.

Click on the image to view at higher resolution.

 

IC 434 The Horsehead & Flame Nebulae

 

IC 434 (The Horsehead & Flame Nebulae) 1

The eastern most star in the belt of Orion is Alnitak.  It is the bright blue star on the left side of the image above.  It is located a little over 800 light years from the Earth.  The area surrounding this massive, and extremely bright, star is a treasure trove of celestial objects.  Perhaps the most famous is the Horsehead Nebula (B33).  It is a dark cloud of obscuring matter silhouetted against a bright red emission nebula designated IC434.  Another prominent object is the Flame Nebula (NGC 2024) which is located just below Alnitak.  IC435, also called the Lump Star Nebula, is located just below and a little left of the Horsehead.

(A detailed image of the Horsehead Nebula may be viewed here.)

1http://www.ocastronomers.org/gallery/htm-othr/hrshd02.asp

 
Copyright Donald P. Waid