Barnard 33 and NGC 2024 - Horsehead Dark Nebula and Flame Nebula
Constellation: Orion
Distance: 1500 light years
Barnard 33 - Other Designations: IC434
NGC 2024 - Other Designations: Sharpless 277
Barnard 33 is a dark cloud of dust in front of a cloud of hydrogen, which is being illuminated by the bright star Sigma Orionis. It is part of the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex, the nearest stellar birthplace to Earth. The nebula resembles a horsehead, and is probably one of the most famous objects in the night sky to the layman. This is a very difficult visual object requiring a large telescope to actually see the famous horsehead shape.
NGC 2024 is also known as the Flame Nebula. This object is a large cloud of ionized hydrogen next to the bright star Alnitiak, which is also believed to cause the ionization. Alnitak is the left most star in Orion's belt.
