The constellation of Orion is much more than just three stars in a row

Space in this direction is rich in spectacular nebulae. Of all the interesting details, the Barnard Loop – a rounded bright red stripe in the middle of the image-is particularly noteworthy. The huge red nebula near the upper edge is not the Rosetta nebula,but a lesser-known, though large, nebula from Orion.

The Rosette nebula is also visible – it is a red-and-white nebula in the upper-left corner. The bright orange star just above the center is Betelgeuse, and the bright blue star at the bottom right is Rigel. Other famous nebulae include the witch's head nebula, the Flame nebula, the Fox fur nebula, and if you know where to look, you'll also find the relatively small Horsehead nebula.

What about the famous three stars that make up the Orion Hunter belt? They are difficult to find in such a detailed photo, but a careful observer will see them below and to the right of the center!