Southern Orion: From Belt to Witch
Do you recognize the belt of Orion in this image? The familiar trio of stars , visible to the unaided eye, can be found across the upper left. Otherwise, the southern part of the constellation Orion has taken on a new look in this unusually deep and wide view First note that the lower left belt star, Alnitak , is the easternmost star in Orion's belt. Left of Alnitak is the Flame Nebula , with clouds of bright emission and dramatic dark dust lanes. Directly below Alnitak , a close inspection will reveal the Horsehead Nebula . Farther right and below is the Orion Nebula , M42 , itself visible to the unaided eye. The brightest star in the frame, near the bottom right, is Rigel . A bright blue star, Rigel illuminates the ominously shaped dust patch known as the Witch Head Nebula , visible as the blue reflection nebula near the lower right corner. Finally, appearing as a vast red ring and encompassing the entire region, is Barnard's Loop . Humans could see this entire menagerie, unaided, were their eyes about 10,000 times more sensitive.