The Horsehead and Flame Nebulas (IC 434)

The Horsehead and Flame Nebulas (IC 434)

The Horsehead and Flame Nebulas in Orion.

This is the Horsehead and Flame nebulas in Orion. The Horsehead is designated Barnard 33 and is actually a dark nebula which sits in front of deep red emission nebula known as IC 434. The orangish Flame nebula on the left side is designated as NGC 2024 and there is a small blue reflection nebula, NGC 2023, below and left of the Horsehead. Near the bottom center is a very small reflection nebula, IC 435. The whole complex is approximately 1,500 light-years away and is all part of the Orion Molecular Cloud.

The second magnitude star Alnitak (the left most star in the belt of Orion) is the bright star above the Flame.

Acquisition Details:
Date: Nov 28, 2021
Scope: Meade 70mm Quad APO Astrograph
Camera: QHY183C, Gain 11, Offset 30
Mount: Celestron AVX
Focuser: ZWO EAF
GuideScope: ASI120MM mini guide scope/camera
Filter: Optolong L-eXtreme
Integration: 37 @ 120s (1h 14m)
Camera Temp: -15c
Software: N.I.N.A, Deep Sky Stacker, Photoshop 2022, PhotoKemi Star Tools
20 Dark
40 Flat
40 Dark Flat

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