The star in the middle is Alnitak, zeta Orionis, one of the three bright stars in Orion´s belt. The Horse Head Nebula is to the right from Alnitak, and the Flame Nebula is just below Alnitak. (North is here not up, as normally, but to the left.)

Horse Head region in Orion

2005 Nov 01, Asikkala

Canon 300D

TMB80 refractor, at f/6

18 x 180 s at ISO1600

Processed with Iris.

Image width is about 1.8°.

For larger size, click here.