Map of the Universe

Horsehead Nebula

Nebula · Dark nebula in the constellation Orion

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Horsehead Nebula
Picture: ESO, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

About the Horsehead Nebula

The Horsehead Nebula is about 1,376 light-years from the Sun, so the light we see from it left about 1,376 years ago.

It is 28,178 light-years from the centre of the Milky Way.

The map lists it as a nebula and shows it among the stars around the Sun, drawn on the plane of the Milky Way.

Key numbers

Distance1,376 light-years (422 pc)
Distance from the Galactic centre28,178 light-years
Galactic coordinatesl = 207.00°, b = -16.80°
Sizeabout 7 light-years across

Where it is

Its place in the universe, from the inside out: Orion–Cygnus Arm (Local Arm) › Milky Way › Local Group › Virgo Supercluster › Laniakea Supercluster › Observable universe.

Zoom out to see it in context: Local Arm, a view about 12,000 light-years across.

From Wikipedia

The Horsehead Nebula is a small dark nebula located about 1,375 light-years from Earth in the constellation of Orion. The nebula is located just to the south of Alnitak, the easternmost star of Orion's Belt, and is part of the much larger Orion molecular cloud complex.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Horsehead Nebula, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

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