In this image the Alnitak and Alnilam star of Orion's Belt, Alnitak, at the top center of the field, surrounded by the well-known Horsehead and Flame nebulae. But this view sweeps farther to the north (left) and east (bottom) detailing subtler cosmic clouds of gas and dust scattered through the fertile, nebula rich region. The scene is anchored at the bottom left by the eerie blue glow and ominous dark dust lanes of reflection nebula M78. Like the Horsehead, the Flame, and the Orion Nebula itself, M78 is a readily visible part of the large Orion Molecular Cloud complex some 1,500 light-years distant [Text adapted from APOD]