What surrounds the famous belt stars of Orion?

A deep exposure shows everything from dark nebula to star clusters, all embedded in an extended patch of gaseous wisps in the greater Orion Molecular Cloud Complex.

The brightest three stars, appearing diagonally on the left of this image are indeed the famous three stars that make up the belt of Orion.

Just below Alnitak, the lowest of the three belt stars, is the Flame Nebula, glowing with excited hydrogen gas and immersed in filaments of dark brown dust.

To the right of Alnitak lies the Horsehead Nebula, one of the most recognisable objects in the night sky.

Finally, on the right side of the image lies the Orion Nebula, the closest star forming region to Earth and one of the few nebulae which is visible to the naked eye.

Location: Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
Data Source: Backyard