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Cone, Flame and Rosette
Hi Greg & All,
The Rosette (NGC 2237-8 + 2244) is difficult from the point of view that it is thumpingly huge and has quite low surface brightness. A UHC filter (if you have one) will help but you won't see the whole thing at one go. It is centred around the rectangular shaped cluster NGC 2244.
I have observed the Cone (SH2-273), and it is an exceptionally difficult object requiring great patience at the eyepiece and a pristine sky. The S.B is worse than the Horsehead (IC 434 + B33) and it was, at very best, a threshold detection rather than "seeing it" per se even with the 18". When Smirnoff wrote: "One description I've found likens it to the difference between satin black (the nebula surrounding it) and flat black (the cone itself)." is pretty close to the mark and it is much smaller (at least what could be detected) that you might expect.
The Flame Nebula (NGC 2024) is a nice, bright nebula with a stark dark lane that is quite a good object once you get Zeta Orionis out of the field. And then there is the Horsehead (IC 434) ...
If memory serves (to quote Chairman Kaga on the Iron Chef) there might be an article about the Horsehead and Flame in next month's (Jan 2009) AS&T which should be in the paper shop in about a week.
Best,
Les D
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