M42 – GREAT ORION NEBULA

Orion

 (ra: 5:35,4 / dec -05:27)

DATA

TYPE: Emission and Reflection Nebula

VISUAL MAGNITUDE: 4

SIZE: 66 arcs minutes

DISTANCE: 1600 light years

OBJECT DESCRIPTION

Probably the most photographed object in the sky. Is the brightest diffuse nebula in the sky. Very easy to find, as it surrounds the Theta Orionis multiple star system or cluster, and also seen to the naked eye in the middle of the sword of Orion. Already under fairly good conditions, the nebula itself can be glimpsed with the naked eye as a faint nebulosity. It is a fabulous target for any kind of telescopes or binoculars. M42 is a very turbulent cloud of gas and dust full of interesting details. M42 shines after the light produced by young stars known as the Trapezium Cluster. At naked eye appears as a one single star.

M42 is part of a much larger cloud of gas and dust that spans over 10 degrees well over half the constellation. It can be visualized through long exposure Ha photographs.

IMAGE INFORMATION

SCOPE: Orion ED 80. Vixen GPDX Mount. Sky Sensor 2000

SKY CONDITIONS: visual limited magnitude 4

CAMERA: Starlight Xpress SXV M7 @ f7.5

FILTERS: Astronomik Type II

EXPOSSURES: LRGB (70,12,12,12).

GUIDING: Synta 70/400 Refractor and SXV Guide Head, AA 3.71 Control Camera Plugin

PROCESSED: Calibrated in ImagesPlus. Photoshop CS