Ever since I became interested in astronomy I have always wanted to observe the horsehead nebula. I knew that I wouldn't have a chance to see it through my old 4.5 inch scope, now that I have a 12" dob I thought I would be able to see it (not having much luck).
I live on the edge of town and the lights here aren't that bright either but I still haven't been able to see it. I have 32mm, 25mm, 15mm, 9mm and 6mm eyepieces along with a Badaar moon/skyglow filter (need to get a OIII). What eyepiece would be the best to use will trying to view it?
I don't like your chances of visually observing this illusive dark nebula.
At most you'll see a faint finger of darkness against a slightly less dark background.
I can see the Horse Head in real time quite plainly on the monitor via my Gstar-Ex camera using my little 80mm refractor.
You will need a dark transparent sky with good seeing and a knowledge of its position.
The only filter that can be used is a H Beta filter, and they are quite expensive
The horse head nebula can be seen in an 8" scope but it takes a bit of observing skill.
Good Luck
Ron
You need a really dark sky site, a night of good transparency, at least a 10" scope, an excellent EP and the correct filter. While the H Beta is ideal a UHC filter also makes it easier to see.
I've seen it three times, twice in a 14" and once in a 25" but only when all the above factors were present. It's detectable as an area of darker sky against the very faint nebulosity.
Craig if you think all of the seeing conditions are prefect and at zenith. And you have the chart where it is then use a 26mm and take zeta orionis just out of the field of view and with your h beta filter you just may glimpse it.
Zeta orionis has to be out of the field because the light will drown it out
Gee, you're brave opening this can of worms again: link
In this there was a link to this page, which is quite good: Horsehead page
The general consensus is that you need a good quality instrument, you need the Horsehead near the zenith and you need good steady and transparent skies. Aperture is not crucial to some observers. I found having a photo that I cut out of a magazine and laminated nearby to check out the starfield was very helpful as well. And get zeta Orionis out of the field, it's blinding!
Last edited by Blue Skies; 02-10-2008 at 09:48 PM.
Reason: fixing links
I found having a photo that I cut out of a magazine and laminated nearby to check out the starfield was very helpful as well.
I though you were going to advise sticking the picture over the working end of the scope.
But yes, it's a very good idea to have a reference photo for checking the star field.
I know it is a little while to wait, but the Deep Sky Delights column of Jan 2009 AS&T will concentrate largely on this iconic object.
Should be in the newsagents on 10 December -- if you are a subscriber, on average, (depending on you distance and postie) it'll be in the letterbox almost a week earlier.
good luck ! let us know if you succeed...I was shown this at one SPSP through a large 20 or 24 inch with a H beta filter-and wish I could say I saw anything remotely like the familar feature we know so well
on the other hand I have imaged it with an ETX 70 from a light polluted suburb-too easy
Mark Suchting (Satchmo) and I have seen it quite cleanly through a 12" binocular telescope. We had (if I can remember) just a cheap eBay set of OIII filters on.
Thanks for the tips everyone. I don't think I will give it a go until I get a H Beta filter or a UHC, untill then I think I will either get the bucket of chaff and call out for a horse of stick a picture of the horsehead over the end of my scope and look at that way.
I saw jeanie image it with the gstar and a tiny little scope at Barambah. I was most impressed as the image came in real time. Twas B&W though. I shot this one at the same time, but it has Lots of problems.
while on the subject of the Horsehead, has anyone else noticed a striking resemblance of the shape of IC 434 to that of Victoria, complete with a Port Phillip Bay (the Horsehead bit). Coincidentally, Port Phillip Bay itself has a somewhat horse head shape!
Craig, All,
Observing last night form southern Victoria with my scope and a friends 18" Obsession. We had a very nice night until cloud rolled in around 2am.
With many DSO seen you maybe interested I observed the Horse head in my 12" with a 17mm eyepiece and HB filter. We could see it easy in the 18" and I was very happy to see it in my 12". You did have to look hard and the little trick of just moving the field a bit. But once you eyes became adjusted to seeing something so dim you could see it fine.
So Craig you will be able to see it with your scope, but a dark sky and a HB filter will help a lot.
Happy hunting.
I'm delighted for you that saw it in both 'scopes and very glad the article was helpful. The view through the larger 'scope no doubt helped you see it in the smaller aperture too -- because you knew how it looked and what to look for.
Why not drop the magazine an email and let them know?
Craig, All,
Observing last night form southern Victoria with my scope and a friends 18" Obsession. We had a very nice night until cloud rolled in around 2am.
With many DSO seen you maybe interested I observed the Horse head in my 12" with a 17mm eyepiece and HB filter. We could see it easy in the 18" and I was very happy to see it in my 12". You did have to look hard and the little trick of just moving the field a bit. But once you eyes became adjusted to seeing something so dim you could see it fine.
So Craig you will be able to see it with your scope, but a dark sky and a HB filter will help a lot.
Happy hunting.
Les D your article was very good in the AS&T
Nice! I observed it with my 12" also, few months ago using 13mm and 17mm eyepieces and a HB filter. Transparency was the best I've ever seen. That was probably the key as I live near Melbourne so my observing site isn't dark, but not severly light polluted either.
It was by no means easy, and as David says jiggling the scope helps, but it wasn't as hard as I expected it to be.
On a great N.Y's.E sky I tried to observe the Horsie, with my 12" + O111 filter.
I could just make out IC434, but I just couldn't coax the fillie out. I'll just have to keep trying.
from a light polluted suburb-too easy
