The Horsehead Nebula

Item number HP102 - The Horsehead Nebula

This poster is 22.5 " by 29" in size, printed on quality poster paper. Retail Price=$ 10.00

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New! The Horsehad Nebula is now available in a laminated version. The poster is laminated on both sides with medium thickness laminate. This makes a very durable poster. It is ideal for a classroom or hallway where people will want to touch the poster or an observatory wall where there might be dew. Retail Price=$ 16.00

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The Horsehead Nebula in Orion - AAO image reference AAT 36a


Top is W, left is N. Image width is about 48 arc min. - Image and text © Anglo-Australian Observatory, Photograph by David Malin.

This curious dark nebula is one of the best-known images in astronomy, probably because of its chance likeness to a recognisable form. The horse-head shape is an extension of a large cloud of dust which fills the lower part (east) of the picture and hides the light of stars beyond. The outer surface of the dusty gas (IC 434) runs roughly north-south and is illuminated by sigma Orionis (off the top of the picture) which causes the hydrogen there to fluoresce, outlining the horse-head shape. The diffuse haze to the left of the image (north) is scattered light from the bright star zeta Orionis. Though conspicuous here, the Horsehead is very difficult to see visually, even with a large telescope. A bright star is partially enveloped in the dust cloud and its scattered light is seen as the large, irregular blue reflection nebula, NGC 2023.