M42
The Orion Nebula (also known as Messier 42, M42, or NGC 1976) is a diffuse nebula situated in the Milky Way, being south of Orion's Belt in the constellation of Orion. It is one of the brightest nebulae in the Northern Hemisphere and is visible to the naked eye in the night sky with apparent magnitude 4.0.
Generally considered a constellation of winter, Orion is still visible in the northern hemisphere now (late March) low in the southwest after sunset. It is 1,300 light years away, the closest region of massive star formation to Earth.
The Orion Nebula is one of the most scrutinized and photographed objects in the night sky and is among the most intensely studied celestial features. The nebula has revealed much about the process of how stars and planetary systems are formed from collapsing clouds of gas and dust.
The Orion Nebula is in turn surrounded by the much larger Orion molecular cloud complex which is hundreds of light years across, spanning the whole Orion Constellation.
At the top of the image is Sh2-279 (alternatively designated S279 or Sharpless 279). It is a bright nebulae that includes a reflection nebula . It is the northernmost part of the asterism known as Orion's Sword, lying 0.6° north of the Orion Nebula. The reflection nebula embedded in Sh2-279 is popularly known as the Running Man Nebula.
Capture info:
Location: Las Cruces, NM US
Telescope: Takahashi FSQ106N
Mount: RST 135E
Camera: QHY268C
Data: 72 x 180sec
Processing: Pixinsight
M42
The Orion Nebula (also known as Messier 42, M42, or NGC 1976) is a diffuse nebula situated in the Milky Way, being south of Orion's Belt in the constellation of Orion. It is one of the brightest nebulae in the Northern Hemisphere and is visible to the naked eye in the night sky with apparent magnitude 4.0.
Generally considered a constellation of winter, Orion is still visible in the northern hemisphere now (late March) low in the southwest after sunset. It is 1,300 light years away, the closest region of massive star formation to Earth.
The Orion Nebula is one of the most scrutinized and photographed objects in the night sky and is among the most intensely studied celestial features. The nebula has revealed much about the process of how stars and planetary systems are formed from collapsing clouds of gas and dust.
The Orion Nebula is in turn surrounded by the much larger Orion molecular cloud complex which is hundreds of light years across, spanning the whole Orion Constellation.
At the top of the image is Sh2-279 (alternatively designated S279 or Sharpless 279). It is a bright nebulae that includes a reflection nebula . It is the northernmost part of the asterism known as Orion's Sword, lying 0.6° north of the Orion Nebula. The reflection nebula embedded in Sh2-279 is popularly known as the Running Man Nebula.
Capture info:
Location: Las Cruces, NM US
Telescope: Takahashi FSQ106N
Mount: RST 135E
Camera: QHY268C
Data: 72 x 180sec
Processing: Pixinsight