M42

M42, M43 the Orion nebula

2003/1/30 21:13 EST. From Wagman observatory, Pittsburgh. Hazy weather, moderate light pollution. Imaged with Jaegers 5"/f5 wide field refractor, scopetronix 18mm eyepiece/adaptor, Nikon coolpix 995 camera, 25.2 seconds, F2.6, f8.2mm, ISO 800, noise reduction on. The frame is about 1 degree x 1 degree 23'. North is up, west at right.

M42 the Orion nebula

This photo of M42 is taken at Wagman observatory with the 20" Manka reflector telescope, 18mm Scopetronix eyepiece/adaptor and Nikon coolpix 995 digital camera. 2002/12/21 20:55 EST, 4 seconds, F2.6, f8.2mm, ISO 800, noise reduction on. Near full moon was not far away, and strong wind made the telescope shaking constantly. The frame is about 20'x15'. North is right and west is down.

Sketch negative, 1999/12/11. 8" Dobsonian, 25mm eyepiece. 1 degree field of view. North is up and west is right. Observed from Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh, with several sodium vapor street lamps just a few yards away. The nebula has 2 "wings". A dark inlet points to the Trapezium from the left. Another dark inlet, smaller and no so dark, is visible to the bottom-right of the Trapezium. Detached from M42, to the left and slightly above is M43, a small oval patch with a star inside.

1999/12/11 23:45 EST. Pittsburgh, PA. 8" reflector + camcorder. The left image is the original video frame. The little cluster is the Trapezium inside M42. The right image is the negative view, enhanced enormously and barely shows the nebula around the Trapezium. The camcorder is not sensitive enough to capture faint nebulous object. Without the nebula, this image by no means shows the actual appearance of M42 in any telescope.