Waid Observatory

Object: IC 434
Date: Dec. 8-9, 2018  -  Location: Davis Mountains west of Fort Davis, TX
Telescope: Stellarvue 102ED  -  Mount: MI250  -  Camera: ST-8300M
Exposure: Ha = 120 min.  -  R = 125 min.  -  G & B = 140 min. each.

Click on the image to view at higher resolution.

 

IC 434

 

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 approximately 1200 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.  NGC 2023, 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.)

1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orion%27s_Belt

 
Copyright Donald P. Waid