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Horsehead Nebula
Galactography > Regions of Space > Middle Regions/Hinter-regions
Galactography > Other Major Polities, Empires, and Meta-Empires > Orion Federation
Galactography > Places and Locales
Galactography > Systems and Worlds > Systems & Worlds G - H
Galactography > Other Major Polities, Empires, and Meta-Empires > Orion Federation
Galactography > Places and Locales
Galactography > Systems and Worlds > Systems & Worlds G - H
Barnard 33 | |
 Image from Steve Bowers | |
| The Horsehead Nebula has changed over time, as seen in these images taken over the last ten thousand years | |
Distance from Sol 1420 ly
Length approx 81 ly
A dark nebula in front of the bright emission nebula IC 434, part of the massive Orion star formation complex. When first discovered in 81 BT by Williamina Fleming this dark cloud resembled a horse's head, hence the name. However since that time the cloud has changed considerably, affected by the pressure of starlight (mostly from Sigma Orionis, a nearby bright star) and by the strong, rapidly changing magnetic fields associated with several protostars buried deep within the dust.
These resource-rich protostar systems are currently being exploited and husbanded by Cloudharvesters associated with the Orion Federation and the Betelgeuse Umma.
A starless gas giant within this nebula is the location for the mega-artwork known as the Lightstorm.
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Development Notes
Text by Steve Bowers
Initially published on 06 February 2012.
Initially published on 06 February 2012.
