SUNSET: 
0
Photographer:
Rod Pommier
Location of Photo:
Pommier Observatory, Portland, OR, USA
Date/Time of photo:
2023-11-24 through 2023-12-22
Equipment:
Telescope: PlaneWave CDK 17, Mount: PlaneWave L500, Camera: SBIG STL 11000M
Description:
One can see the entire process of new star formation in this view of the iconic Horsehead Nebula in Orion. The blue supergiants star Sigma Orionis, which is above the field of view, is emitting intense ultraviolet radiation that is ionizing the hydrogen in the emission nebula IC 434, causing it to glow red at a wavelength of 656.28 nm. That star is also emitting fierce stellar winds that are creating wisps and streaks within the nebula and also cause it to pile up as a shock wave as it encounters the resistance of the large dark molecular dust cloud, Lynds Dark Nebula 1630. However, there are some persistent intrusions of the dark nebula into the emission nebula, such as the Horsehead Nebula itself. As the fierces stellar winds continue to apply pressure to the edges of these intrusions,
