This area in the constellation of Orion is part of the Orion Molecular Cloud, a gigantic dense area of dust and gas in space that is made up of molecular hydrogen and helium. These clouds are the birth place of stars, which form out of the material in the cloud.

Part of Barnard's Loop, Sh2-276, runs vertically across the left side of the frame.

The M78 reflection / emission nebulae complex is in the center of the frame.

B33, the Horsehead Nebula, and NGC 2024, the Flame Nebula, are seen in the bottom right corner.

The three bright stars in the belt of Orion, Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka, are on the right side of the image.

An interesting dark nebula, LDN 1622, lies on the left side of the image.

North is to the top in the above image.

Central Orion Object Type: Wide-Field Area Size: 6.8° x 4.3° Constellation: Orion Image Field Centered At: RA: 05h 45m 58s Dec: +00° 17' 42"