NGC2024 · Flame Nebula
| Chinese name | 火焰星云 |
|---|---|
| Type | Emission nebula |
| Constellation | Ori |
| RA | 05h41m |
| Dec | −01° |
| Apparent magnitude | 2ᵐ |
| Hemisphere | Both hemispheres |
| Best season | Winter |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Focal length | 中长焦 800–1200mm |
About
The Flame Nebula lies about 1,400 light-years away, right next to Alnitak, the easternmost belt star of Orion. Its bright orange-red hydrogen is cut by a forking dark dust lane, giving it the look of dancing flames. Intense ultraviolet radiation from Alnitak ionizes the gas behind it, keeping it aglow. Hidden within is a dust-shrouded young star cluster, with hundreds of newborn stars visible in the infrared. Often paired with the Horsehead Nebula in a classic Orion two-nebula composition, it is a popular winter target at medium-to-long focal lengths.