Hello all,
here's my first real attempt at the Horsehead Nebula. It was gusty and guiding was blown around a bit by the wind, I had to stop imaging in the
end as the wind got too strong.
Anyhow, hope you enjoy the image.
Paul Mayo
The Horsehead Nebula.
IC 434, Barnard 33 & NGC 2023.
One of the most popularly known celestial objects to amateur astronomers is the Horsehead Nebula. Situated in the constellation of Orion, the Horsehead Nebula is a dark nebula laying about 1500 light-years distance from us. The familiar horse-head shape (centre image) is formed from a dark non-luminous nebula (Barnard 33) that silhouettes itself against the reddish-pink glow of the emission nebula IC 434.
The IC 434 emission nebula glows as stellar radiation received from the nearby star Sigma Orionis (not pictured) excites the gas cloud into producing photons (light). To the lower left of the Horsehead nebula is the tiny yellowish nebula surrounding the variable star V615 Orionis. At lower left of this image is the larger bright bluish reflection nebula NGC 2023 which is strongly reflecting light from the star that lays at the centre of this bright nebula.
Higher Resolution Image:
http://www.skylab.com.au/pmsa/Horsehead%20Nebula.html
Exposure Details:
Telescope: 304mm f/5 reflector telescope, hand guided.
Camera: Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel (not modified).
Exposures:
5 x 6 minute exposures @ ISO400 +
2 x 10 minute exposures @ ISO200
Total Exposure time approx. 50 minutes.
Sky Conditions: Gusty winds. Seeing: 7/10 Wind: 6/10 Moisture: 0/10
Ambient Temperature: 21°C
Notes: Many guiding errors due to wind gusts, had to call it quits.
Clear Skies
Paul M