Zooming in on VISTA’s view of the Flame Nebula

This zoom sequence starts with the familiar view of the constellation of Orion (the Hunter) and closes in on the Flame Nebula (NGC 2024) and its surroundings, located close to the end of Orion’s belt. First we are seeing the sky in visible light, but at the end we move to the VISTA infrared image and can see through the dust into the heart of this spectacular star-forming region and see the hidden cluster of very young stars.