This mosaic shows three nebulae that are part of the Orion Molecular Cloud: Flame Nebula, Horsehead Nebula, and NGC 2023, taken by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE.

Despite its name, there is no fire coming out of the Flame Nebula. What makes it so bright is the blue star Alnitak, seen to the right of the central cloud. In the lower right of the image you will find the Horsehead Nebula, easily recognisable by the silhouette of a horse's head in visible light. The bright circle in the lower half of the image is the third nebula, NGC 2023, which is also classified as a reflection nebula due to dust reflecting visible light from nearby stars.

Image description:

A bright cloud of gas and dust glows in the centre of the image, surrounded by "flames" of red gas and dust. Beneath the large cloud in the centre is a bright dust circle. In the darkness of space, blue and green starspots of different sizes fill the background and are sparsely scattered.