NGC 2024

NGC 2024, also known as The Flame Nebula, is an emission nebula in Orion, part of the vast hydrogen clouds that exist there about 1000 to 1500 light years from Earth. The left most star in Orion's belt, Altnitak, (the very bright star at the right edge of my photo) is stimulating this nebula to shine when its UV radiation knocks electrons away from their hydrogen nuclei, which later bounce back into place, emitting photons of red light. Vast lanes of dusty gas in front of the nebula have created what looks like the branches of a tree, giving the object the appearance of a fire burning vigorously. The famous Horsehead Nebula, part of the same molecular cloud complex, is just off the bottom portion of the image.

Taken March 22, 2012, with the C-14 operating at F:3.5 and the ST-8 camera binned 2 X 2. Exposure was 1000 seconds.