Horsehead Nebula
13 Mar 2016Thelan
The Horsehead Nebula received its name because, when looked at from Sol, one of the dark clouds protruding against the brighter part of the nebula supposedly resembles a horse's head. Unfortunately, I approached it from an awkward angle because of T9's jump range and missed the horse head completely.
Not a pretty view if one flies into the Horsehead Nebula from the dark side, just smudges of black and dirty dark red across the sky.
But once you're on the other side, layers of bright pink clouds surround you.
On the surface of this nameless planet, desert basks in the soft glow of the eternal dawn.
I found the "horse head" on the galactic map and assumed that it should be visible from Horsehead Dark Region IR-V C2-0 - but from the side opposite to Sol, inverted and partially obscured by brighter gas. It took some time to find it until I selected Sol (1505 LY away) on the map and aimed in that direction.
The horse head! I finally see it!
From Messier 78 Sector HR-W D1-8, we say goodbye to the Horsehead Nebula and the whole of Barnard's Loop.
The month-long journey across Orion is complete.