VLT images the Horsehead Nebula

A new high-resolution colour image of one of the most photographed celestial objects, the famous "Horsehead Nebula" (IC 434) in Orion, has been produced from data stored in the VLT Science Archive. The original CCD frames were obtained in February 2000 with the FORS2 multi-mode instrument at the 8.2-m VLT KUEYEN telescope on Paranal (Chile). The comparatively large field-of-view of the FORS2 camera is optimally suited to show this extended object and its immediate surroundings in impressive detail.

The full text of this Photo Release, with two photos, technical information about the images and a more detailed explanation of the various features seen, is available at the ESO website at: http://www.eso.org/outreach/press-rel/pr-2002/phot-02-02.html