Galactic Nebula NGC 1999: Just south of the famous Orion Nebula exists one of the most interesting starforming regions in a distance of only approx. 1500 LY. In the center of the image a very bright Reflection Nebula around the variable star V380 Orionis shines up. In the middle of this nebula one can detect (especially in the Hi-Res version) an extremely dark spot, the nature of which is still under investigation. The latest reaearch results support that this dark area is really empty space. The origin of this in a starforming region still has to be explained.
Around the center one finds many Reflection and Emission Nebulae, all created by the radiation of young hot stars. Several of them are socalled Herbig-Haro Objects, which is a class of stars still in the process of being born.

The image was taken at the observatory of IAS at Hakos Farm in Namibia.