Quote:
Originally Posted by Argonavis
For some background on the Horsehead Nebula, go to
http://home.earthlink.net/~astro-app/horsehead/B33_2.htm
I believe this is an article written for Astronomy magazine, but never published. The author appears puzzled by this, but I suspect that the editors of Astronomy magazine read the article and decided that most of their readers would not find this interesting. I certainly found it fascinating. |
Well, I should have read this earlier. Very interesting, indeed (read on from this link to other pages on the site where he discusses what it takes to see it). Stephen Waldee has put a lot of time into investigating this particular object. But I'm still a little puzzled as to why I have had so much trouble seeing it. He says that aperture is no barrier to observing it but clean optics, good sky transparency and the object near the zenith is important. The H-beta filter is useful but not always essential. However I do wonder if some of the ease he reports on is from familiarity of the size and position of the Horsehead.
Perhaps I should have a go with my 8" some day...