When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.A nebula scene is shown with swirling clouds of brown, red and orange. Blue and white stars can be seen dotted throughout. | Credit: Greg MeyerAstrophotographer Greg Meyer has shared a breathtaking new view of the iconic Horsehead Nebula (Barnard 33) rearing its head 1,600 light-years from Earth in the constellation Orion.Meyer’s image reveals the dark equine silhouette of opaque dust for which the nebula is named, backlit by glowing hydrogen gas energized by the ultraviolet radiation of nearby stars.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe intricate structure of the nebula has been examined by some of the most powerful observatories ever created — including the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope — revealing the secrets of the star-forming region while also highlighting its beauty. In some images — such as those captured by the Spitzer Space Telescope — the iconic horsehead-shape disappears entirely, transforming the familiar nebula into something alien, and new.The bright light of Alnitak, the easternmost star in
