Horsehead Nebula

Horsehead Nebula, (catalog number IC 434), ionized-hydrogen region in the constellation Orion. The nebula consists of a cloud of ionized gas lit from within by young, hot stars; a dark cloud containing interstellar dust lies immediately in front. The dust absorbs the light from part of the ionized cloud. A portion of this dark cloud has a shape somewhat resembling a horse’s head. The nebula is located 400 parsecs (1,300 light-years) from the Sun. It has a diameter of approximately 4 parsecs (13 light-years) and a total mass of about 250 solar masses.