Click on an image to see a full sized view
March 2009 - my first attempt at imaging the 'Sword of Orion' - using a 200mm telelphoto lens
March 2011 - M42/Running Man Nebula imaged using a Borg 76 Eco semi-apochromatic refractor - again very slight image processing done
March 2011 - M42 imaged through a 6-inch Maksutov Newtonian Telelscope.
Calibrated with Darks and Flats, slightly processed in PSP 13
My very first image of Orion was taken from the Namibian Desert in 1997, using a manual SLR, on a fixed tripod and a fairly short exposure.
Eventually I upgraded to an EQ6 mount.
Finally I had the means to take narrow-angled shots of Orion.
In 2008 I updated my camera to a Canon 350d and, with the aide of some nifty software (DeepSky Stacker) and Corel Paint Shop Pro I obtained my first decent image of the 'Sword' of Orion.
Top right - Spring 2009 - First image taken at 200mm focal length [Telelphoto lens]
Spring 2011 - Kielder Spring Star Party
Mid-right - second image taken using 200mm telephoto lens - longer individual exposures
Lower right - third image taken through a Borg 76 Eco at a focal length of ~500mm
Bottom right - final image taken during Kielder 2011 Spring Star Party - using 6-inch Maksutov-Newtonian - focal length 900mm
Facts and Figures about Messier 42.
1) First observed with a telescope in 1611 by Johann Baptiste Cysatus
2) Distance 1,300 Ly - diameter approx 30Ly
3) Described by Charles Messier on March 4th 1769
4) Contains central Trapezium Cluster of stars which are lighting up the gas and dust in the Nebula
Driven camera Mount - click on image for larger view
My EQ6 set-up - showing Borg 77ED refractor used as a guidescope. Mount has the Intelligent Handset upgrade from AWR fitted
Click on image to see a full sized view - for more details of my equipment please select the 'My Equipment' link from the Astronomy Menu at the top of this page
Imaging the Sword of Orion