APOD - February 18, 2026 🙂
This wide-field portrait of the Orion constellation reveals many of its most iconic nebular regions framed within a sweeping arc of Barnard’s Loop. Dominating the lower right is the Great Orion Nebula (M42) with the Running Man Nebula above it. Moving upward along the Belt region, the Flame and the Horsehead Nebulae emerge from dense fields of ionized hydrogen. Higher still, the blue reflection glow of M78 contrasts with the surrounding red emission clouds.

The image highlights the complex structure of Orion’s massive molecular cloud complex, including extensive H-alpha emission that fills the frame. Fine dust lanes, reflection regions, and bright emission zones are rendered with high resolution and depth, showcasing the dynamic interplay of star formation and the surrounding interstellar medium.