M42, The Orion Nebula
| M42, imaged with a TAK 106ED equipped with a ST10XME camera and a hydrogen-alpha filter. Click on the image twice for full size. |
| H-alpha image from 10 x 5 minute exposures; TAK 106ED f/5 scope; ST10XME camera; external guiding Borg 77ED |
The Orion Nebula (M42, NGC 1976) is the brightest starforming emission nebula in the sky. It is
visible to the naked eye under moderately good conditions and is an interesting target with
telescopes of any size. It is relatively easy to find the Orion Nebula, as it surrounds the Theta
Orionis multiple star seen in the middle of the sword of Orion. The nebula is located at a distance
of about 1,500 light-years. It is very large and extends to over 1 degree in diameter, thus
covering more than four times the area of the Full Moon. Its diameter is about 40 light-years.
To the right of M42 in the image shown below is the the Running Man Nebula. This an interesting
combination of three different nebula types. A close up image of this nebula can be seen here.
The Orion Nebula is the most conspicuous part of a much larger cloud of gas and dust which
extends over 10 degrees or well over half of the constellation Orion. It covers several hundreds
of light-years. Part of this can be seen in the wide field image shown below. On the left of the
wide field image image is the famous Horse Head nebula. A hydrogen-alpha image of the
Horsehead can be seen here. The Horsehead silhouette is formed by dust against a background
of glowing hydrogen gas.
Because of its brightness, M42 is relatively easy to image if one is only interested in part of the
nebula. The problem in producing an image of the entire nebula is its great dynamic range. If the
dim outer areas are captured, the bright inner areas are overexposed. This problem can be
seen in the wide field image at the bottom of this page. The hydrogen-alpha images shown below
is derived from five different exposures.....20 x 300 sec; 20 x 60 sec; 25 x 15 sec; 20 x 1 sec; and
40 x 0.5 sec. The different exposures were aligned and blended using Photoshop.
visible to the naked eye under moderately good conditions and is an interesting target with
telescopes of any size. It is relatively easy to find the Orion Nebula, as it surrounds the Theta
Orionis multiple star seen in the middle of the sword of Orion. The nebula is located at a distance
of about 1,500 light-years. It is very large and extends to over 1 degree in diameter, thus
covering more than four times the area of the Full Moon. Its diameter is about 40 light-years.
To the right of M42 in the image shown below is the the Running Man Nebula. This an interesting
combination of three different nebula types. A close up image of this nebula can be seen here.
The Orion Nebula is the most conspicuous part of a much larger cloud of gas and dust which
extends over 10 degrees or well over half of the constellation Orion. It covers several hundreds
of light-years. Part of this can be seen in the wide field image shown below. On the left of the
wide field image image is the famous Horse Head nebula. A hydrogen-alpha image of the
Horsehead can be seen here. The Horsehead silhouette is formed by dust against a background
of glowing hydrogen gas.
Because of its brightness, M42 is relatively easy to image if one is only interested in part of the
nebula. The problem in producing an image of the entire nebula is its great dynamic range. If the
dim outer areas are captured, the bright inner areas are overexposed. This problem can be
seen in the wide field image at the bottom of this page. The hydrogen-alpha images shown below
is derived from five different exposures.....20 x 300 sec; 20 x 60 sec; 25 x 15 sec; 20 x 1 sec; and
40 x 0.5 sec. The different exposures were aligned and blended using Photoshop.
Wide field image of the area near the Orion Nebula and the Horsehead Nebula. The image
is from 19 x 3 minute exposures with a modified Canon XSi and a 200mm lens at f/3.5, ISO
1600. Click on the image for full size.
is from 19 x 3 minute exposures with a modified Canon XSi and a 200mm lens at f/3.5, ISO
1600. Click on the image for full size.
