Orion's Belt and Neighboring Nebulae

[celeron787]

Orion is one of the most recognizable constellations in the night sky even in light polluted Singapore!

View plate-solved version here: http://nova.astrometry.net/annotated_full/4709831

Three bright stars Zeta (Alnitak), Epsilon (Alnilam), and Delta (Mintaka) make up the asterism, Orion's Belt. Just to the south of Alnitak, the easternmost star of Orion's Belt, is the Flame Nebula (NGC2024) and the fainter Horsehead Nebula (IC434).

Orion's Sword is another compact asterism south of the Orion's Belt. It comprises three stars (42 Orionis, Theta Orionis, and Iota Orionis) and M42, the Orion Nebula, which together are thought to resemble a sword.

Multiple nebulae are located here which include the Running Man Nebula (Sh2-279) and M43.

Sony A6000
Samyang 135mm F2.0
Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer
Tripod

Bortle 8
ISO400
Light frames - 218 x 15secs (manually dithered in RA and DEC)
Dark Frames - 30 x 15secs
Flat Frames - 30
Bias Frames - 50

Deep Sky Stacker
StarTools - 71% Bin, Autodev, Crop, Wipe, Super Structure, Decon, Color, Denoise
Lightroom - Purple defringe, Vibrance, Highlights

[hhzhang]

Nice composition! A6000 looks a good cam for astrophotography.

[celeron787]

Nice composition! A6000 looks a good cam for astrophotography.

Haha yes, i'm quite happy with it. Except the fact that image acquisition software doesn't support Sony cameras. I'm considering getting a modded nikon.

[Airconvent]

Wow...impressive especially you managed to catch the faint Horsehead in the same frame

[celeron787]

Wow...impressive especially you managed to catch the faint Horsehead in the same frame

Thanks! Super stoked to get the horsehead too, all credits to the samyang 135mm f2 lens, sucks in so much light.
Using the same data set but with 2x drizzle, I also did a heavily cropped image of M42.

[rifleman175]

Here's an old Ha image of M42 I tool last year with the ASI1600MM, with improved processing to further enhance the nebulosity.

Total exposure: 43 x 2min
William Optics GT71 with ASI1600MM, Optolong 7nm H alpha filter



I should definitely revisit this target this year hopefully when the skies are clear, and go for 5min exposures with improved tracking, more precise polar alignment and auto-guiding.

[celeron787]

Here's an old Ha image of M42 I tool last year with the ASI1600MM, with improved processing to further enhance the nebulosity.

Total exposure: 43 x 2min
William Optics GT71 with ASI1600MM, Optolong 7nm H alpha filter



I should definitely revisit this target this year hopefully when the skies are clear, and go for 5min exposures with improved tracking, more precise polar alignment and auto-guiding.

Hey not sure if it's me but i think the picture isn't working [smilie=confused.gif]

[rifleman175]

Ooops seems like the link expired, could you check if it works now?

Here's an old Ha image of M42 I tool last year with the ASI1600MM, with improved processing to further enhance the nebulosity.

Total exposure: 43 x 2min
William Optics GT71 with ASI1600MM, Optolong 7nm H alpha filter



I should definitely revisit this target this year hopefully when the skies are clear, and go for 5min exposures with improved tracking, more precise polar alignment and auto-guiding.

Hey not sure if it's me but i think the picture isn't working [smilie=confused.gif]

[celeron787]

Ooops seems like the link expired, could you check if it works now?

Yup it's working. Nice image! Can't wait to see it in color!

[rifleman175]

Actually I just processed another stack of 17x 3min Ha images taken also from last Nov with the same setup, enjoy!



I guess the lack of clear skies can help improve one's processing skills somewhat haha!