Special request - close up of Trapezium

[mental4astro]

Hi folks,

I have ventured my eyepiece, :rolleyes:, to ask a special request from you imaging folk.

I am after a photo of the Trapezium in M42. There are many stars in this cluster, and I've managed to see down to Trap. E, F, G, H & I. The difficulty is finding high resolution charts or photos of the Trapezium to confirm sightings and targets. The best chart I've seen of the Trapezium actually shows down to Trap. I, but I know the field goes further.

Would someone be able to provide an exquisite image of the Trapezium for me, please?

I imagine that the Trapezium will present its own set of challenges with the four main stars being so damn bright.

For what it's worth, since this is an imaging forum, below is my latest sketch of M42 done a couple of weeks ago from Katoomba Airfield using my 17.5" dob. The other photo is a close up of the Trapezium I did the night I managed to see down to Trap I. from my home in Sydney, also using my 17.5" dob.

Thanks for looking and considering this request.

Alex.

[multiweb]

You'll find some pretty highres (https://www.google.com.au/search?q=trapezium+high+resolution&client=tablet-android-samsung&espv=1&biw=1280&bih=800&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sboxchip=Images&sa=X&ei=Po_QVNWyEISfyQSfgoGwDw&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ) pics of the trap on google images.

[Dennis]

Hi Alex

I had a go at the Trap a few years ago – here is the link:

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=25156

Although it is by no means exquisite, the images do show the Trapezium stars A B C D E F G H & I.

Cheers

Dennis

[nebulosity.]

Just want to say, your drawings are phenomenal!

Very skilled work. :thumbsup:

Cheers
Jo

[DJScotty]

They're drawings?!
I thought they were photos! WOW

[Dennis]

Here’s another one, taken in 2011 with my Tak Mewlon 180 and ST2000XM that provides a wider field.

Cheers

Dennis

[omegacrux]

hi Alex
one of the Astro mags recently had a close up of the trap
ill see if I can find wich one , got it here somewhere

Edit just had a look its about Orion but no close up
sorry I was wrong

David

[uwahl]

Attached is a hubble image of the trapezium - hope it helps

[RobF]

I thought John's effort was pretty memorable:

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=128001&highlight=trapezium

[mental4astro]

Thanks fellows for your replies, :)

Marc, it didn't occur to me to do an 'image' search of the Trap. :rolleyes: But I'm glad I didn't. The collection of images presented here has been been a better learning experience for me. A search for images would not have given me this!

One thing I have learned from this is how challenging the Trapezium is to both image and resolve visually. In common to both is how small the cluster is, and how overwhelming the Trap. A, B, C & D are, particularly for imaging. For visual, if the aperture is big enough to be able to see the smaller members, it all depends on exceptional seeing conditions, which is very rare.

I am now very much aware of how special conditions were that night I saw all those Trap. stars, and from my home in Sydney.

That Hubble image is staggering that it shows the erosion shadows behind the smaller stars. The solar system building material around those stars is being blasted way.

Dennis, thanks for the wider field image. Yes, I can sometimes focus too much on the Trapezium itself. There are other stars in the FOV.

If you have other contributions, please add them.

Alex.

[mental4astro]

Thanks Jo and Scott for your kind words on my work. Like those, you should see my other pieces too in my blog (http://alexanderastrosketching.blogspot.co m.au/) :D

[strongmanmike]

Great Blog and lovely sketches, love your passion, it's infectious :)

[BPO]

But you can't do astrophotography with a Mewlon! Or so I'm often told, and usually by people who've never owned, used or even seen one...

[Dennis]

LOL! Oh dear, I didn’t know that.;)

Maybe I should stop taking photos through the Mewlon 180 F12 to acknowledge the wisdom of the naysayers!:):D

Cheers

Dennis