B33, the famed "Horsehead Nebula" in the constellation Orion, is 
undoubtedly the best known example of a dark nebula in the entire 
heavens.  It is, however, almost completely invisible to the eye at the 
telescope and is only visible in long exposure photographs such as the 
one seen here.  About a half degree south of the bright star Zeta 
Orionis, the Horsehead nebula lies at a distance of about 1200 light 
years.  It is actually a great obscuring mass seen against the bright 
nebulosity IC 434.  It was probably first detected in photographs made 
be E. Pickering in 1889.  One of the most difficult objects in the sky 
for the visual observer, the Horsehead Nebula is also a difficult and 
challenging photographic object.

Object: The Horsehead Nebula (B33)
Coordinates: Right Ascension 05hr 38.7m, Declination -02deg 32m
Constellation: Orion

Telescope focal length: 500mm
Telescope aperture: 80mm
Camera: Santa Barbara Instruments ST-6
Exposure: 300s (15 @ 20s)
Observer(s): Dr. Greg Latta and Teddy Latta