Explanation:
This complex of beautiful, dusty reflection nebulae lies
in the constellation
Scorpius
along the plane of our Milky Way Galaxy.
Its overall outline suggests a horsehead in profile,
though it covers a much larger region than the better known
Horsehead Nebula of Orion.
The
star near the eye of the horse and the center of the 5 degree wide
field, is embedded in
blue reflection nebula IC 4592
over 400 light-years away.
At that distance, the view spans nearly 40 light-years.
The horse's gaze seems fixed on Beta Scorpii, also
named
Graffias, the bright star at the lower left.
Toward the top right, near the horse's ear, is another striking bluish
reflection nebula, IC 4601.
The characteristic blue hue of reflection nebulae is caused
by the tendency of interstellar dust to more strongly
scatter blue starlight.
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