A stunning 68 minute total exposure of the most famous Nebula in the sky and its neighbour, the beautiful Orion Nebula (M42) and the Running Man Nebula to the left (M43)
When you look at the ‘pot’, or truly the sword region of the constellation of Orion, the middle star of the pots handle is a little fuzzy. Its fuzzy because it isn’t a star at all, its a massive star forming region! It is crazy that we see this entire image as only 1 star with our eyes.
(The image ORION OVER LITTLE COVE shows a wide field view of the constellation of Orion).
You can see the Orion Nebula though binoculars or a telescope, but you wont see the colours without a photo.
Hydrogen, oxygen and other elements are condensing into brand new baby stars!
The red/pink is Hydrogen-Alpha light. Super hot hydrogen gas emits light at this specific wavelength. The blue light is also a specific wavelength emitted from super hot oxygen.
For a wide field view have a look at Orion over Little Cove. You can see the blurry star in the handle of Orion that is this nebula.
CAPTURING DETAILS
Total exposure time 68 minutes.
2 minute exposures in Red Green Blue
Captured using Nebulosity software
EQUIPMENT
Takahashi FSQ106ED refractor with reducer. FL360mm at f3.6
Starlight Express Trius H694 cooled CCD, filter wheel and Lodestar guider.
Skywatcher AZEQ6 mount
PROCESSING
Pxinsight, Adobe Lightroom 5. Topaz Denoise.