Horsehead Nebula it ain't. that is a very small faint object. M42 sounds like it. Great Nebula in Orion and the dust lanes can be just visible in naked eye in suburbia witha bit of dark adaptation. Even better in binocs and better again in a scope.
It is the central section in the sword of Orion, the belt is the three lined up stars below it, Alnitak, Anilam and Mintaka. Orion is upside down to us in the Southern Hemisphere.
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Then turn on Constellations and you will see it so easy. One of the best ( and not because it is free but because it is so good ) programs anywhere for the budding astronomer. With a big scope you can sometimes discern faint colours on a good night.
Don't be fooled by the M43 label, that is another nebula almost hidden inside M42. You will not see the pink colour but you should see grey 'clouds' around the bright stars.
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