A long, thin, moderatly bright nebulous region running north to south near Alnitak (Zeta Orionis), the eastern star of Orion's Belt. IC 434 is better known than its Index Catalogue number might suggest: it is the bright background nebula against which the famous dark region called the Horsehead Nebula is silhouetted. Nearby are the Flame Nebula (NGC 2024) and the reflection nebula NGC 2023.
