Horsehead Nebula

This shot is comprised of 840 pictures totalling about seven hours of total imaging time. The Horsehead Nebula is located approximately 1,500 light-years from Earth, it is part of the vast Orion Molecular Cloud Complex. It is a dark nebula in the constellation of Orion and one of the most recognizable nebulae due to its striking resemblance to a horse's head. The Horsehead Nebula is a region of active star formation, particularly in its lower regions. Bright spots at the base of the nebula are young stars in the process of forming. However, the nebula itself is being slowly eroded by the intense radiation from nearby stars and is expected to dissipate in about five million years.