Hubble snaps a new gorgeous infrared image of the Horsehead Nebula
The iconic Horsehead Nebula is seen in a new light in this image released by NASA to celebrate Hubble’s birthday.
To celebrate the 23rd anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope (yes, it really has been in space for an incredible 23 years), NASA released this new infrared picture of the Horsehead Nebula.
In the image you can see some of its fascinating features, including the amazing ‘pillars’ of dust that make up the majority of its shape and the five-star system Sigma Orionis that illuminates its upper ridge.
Found in the constellation of Orion, the Horsehead Nebula is about 1,500 light-years away and is one of the most easily observable regions of massive star formation that we can see.