This region in the constellation Orion is full with emission, reflection and dark nebulae. The two most prominent features in this image are the Orion nebula with the catalogue number Messier 42 and the Horsehead nebula with the catalogue designation Barnard 33 or IC 434. This nebula rich region can be seen from the northern hemisphere in Winter. The nebulae are both about 1'350 light years away from the solar system. 

The Orion nebula is one of the brightest Nebulae in the sky and can be seen with the naked eye under dark skies. It is one of the most active star forming regions in the milkyway. Astronomers have observed this nebula intensively and have been able to clarify many questions about the formation of stars and planetary systems thanks to these observations.

The Horsehead nebula is a dark nebula. Behind it is a bright H-alpha Emission Nebula called IC 434.