This image shows the Orion B molecular cloud, based on a combination of data from ESA’s Herschel and Planck space telescopes. The bright areas in the picture shows the emission by interstellar dust grains in three different wavelengths observed by Herschel (250, 350, and 500 microns) and the lines crossing the image in a ‘drapery pattern’ represent the magnetic field orientation (based on the Planck data.)
Orion B, along with Orion A, make up the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex, a large group of bright and dark nebulae stretching across the iconic constellation of Orion. The Orion B portion of the complex is home to the Flame Nebula, seen as a large bright area at the bottom of the image. The Flame Nebula is an emission nebula and contains a cluster of newly formed massive stars at its centre. Protruding from the edge at the bottom of the image as a small lump is the famous Horsehead Nebula.
At the top of the image near a cross of filaments are two bright areas, the reflection nebulae NGC 2071 and NGC 2068, which also have high dust densities.