HORSEHEAD NEBULA

(catalog number IC 434), ionized-hydrogen region in the constellation Orion. The nebula consists of a cloud of ionized gas lit from within by young, hot stars; a dark cloud containing interstellar dust lies immediately in front. The dust absorbs the light from part of the ionized cloud. A portion of this dark cloud has a shape somewhat resembling a horse's head. The nebula is located 350 parsecs (1,100 light-years) from the Sun. It has a diameter of approximately 5 parsecs (16 light-years) and a total mass of about 300 solar masses.