Horsehead Nebula with Flair

[lazjen]

...er, Flare, really. :)

I spent some time at my "usual" dark site location last new moon. I had some technical difficulties with power which meant I had to set up in a different, less desirable location which threw my plans out for my imaging targets.

I gave the Horsehead Nebula a try on my last night there but I found it very difficult to get framing to avoid Alnitak. So I gave up and just took what I could get. :) Now that I've done this, I am even more impressed with the great results I've seen others get. I guess it's a greater appreciation of the skill, etc required!

172427

Astrobin with details: http://astrob.in/133143/0/

[cometcatcher]

It's a good shot all the same Chris.

Way back when I started doing night photography, I found it better to keep a bright light in frame than to have it just outside. But it's hard to win with the horsie. If I include Alnitak I get flare from Alnilam, the middle belt star just out of frame.

[lazjen]

Thanks Kevin. That's an interesting point about the bright star. I was just wanting to avoid Alnitak, etc because I knew they would bloom the shot - however maybe it wouldn't have caused as much of the flaring if I did. Something to try another time.