IC 4592, often called the Blue Horsehead Nebula, is a striking reflection nebula located in the constellation Scorpius. The blue glow comes from starlight scattered by fine interstellar dust, particularly from the bright star Nu Scorpii embedded near the nebula’s "eye." This image captures the delicate interplay of colors, cool blues from reflection, warm browns from cosmic dust, and crimson wisps of hydrogen emission from the surrounding region.

The intricate structure and pastel hues visible here were made possible by a HaLRGB imaging technique, which enhances subtle hydrogen emission while preserving the true colors of dust and starlight. IC 4592 lies around 400 light-years away and spans over 10 light-years across, making it one of the more expansive and complex reflection nebulae in our celestial neighborhood. Its resemblance to a horse's head is more abstract than that of its more famous namesake in Orion, but no less mesmerizing.

Image Description and Details :

Capture of images in the rural area of Monte Belo-MG - 32x5min on July 16, 2016 and in the rural area of São Romão-MG - 24x5min on July 13, 2018 with the Sigma 150mm Apo Macro DG-HSM F / 2.8 lens in F / 4 and Canon 5D Mark II camera - ISO 1600 - built-in piggy-back darks, flats and bias on the GSO RC 8 "telescope and NEQ6-pro mount.

Copyright Information: Irineu Felippe de Abreu Filho