Object Information                                            Imaging Details

The second 'outing' for the new 300mm lens was to capture the features around the belt of Orion. The three belt stars are all B-class stars, approximately the same visual magnitude and quite far from Earth (all over 800 l-y away). The area also contains extensive emission nebulosity. The two nebula that stand out the most are the orange-red Flame Nebula (NGC 2024) and the Horsehead Nebula which is actually a dark nebula (B33) in front of an massive emission nebula (IC434).

The image is a combination of Ha data taken from my home, and RGB (color) data acquired at Upham. Conditions at Upham were a bit hazy, but good enough to get the colors since I already had the Ha data.

The flame nebula is pretty easy to spot with a moderately-sized telescope. The horsehead is very difficult to see without an Hb filter.

Clicking the above image will bring up a higher resolution image.

Lens:

Canon 300mm f/4 (used at f/8 for Ha; f/6.3 for color)