Zeta Orionis Nebulosities
Emission and reflection nebulas including Horsehead and Flame.
Uploaded 2/21/22

 
This
            dramatic field is completely filled with red hydrogen nebulosity.
            The brilliant naked eye star Zeta Orionis is to the upper left,
            and is the left star in Orions belt. To its lower left is the
            yellowish colored NGC2024 - the Flame Nebula. The color is due
            to a mixture of dust and gas and is unique in the sky. To its
            right is the magnificent bluish reflection nebula NGC2023 which
            has yellowish streamers of dust overlaying the blue reflection
            component. The large red strip of nebulosity above is IC434 which
            has waves or curtains of nebulosity. And finally, in this strip
            of red we find the famous Horse Head Nebula, a dark "Bok
            globule" of dust that is not illuminated from within. Close
            examination will reveal half a dozen stars inside the object.

            
Select an image size for a larger view:

1400 x 1200


Instrument:  10" f/3.9 Orion Astrograph Newtonian with Baader MPCC
Mount:  Astrophysics 1200 QMD
Camera:  Color CMOS OSC
Guider: ZWO ASI mini  w/80mm piggyback refractor
Exposure:  3 hours total integration time
Location:  Payson, Arizona, Elevation:  5150 ft.
Sky:  Seeing FWHM = 2 arcsec , Transparency 9/10
Outside Temperature:  35 F

Image Processing Tools: 
Maxim DL6:  Calibration, Color Conversion, aligning, stacking
PixInsight:  Most processing
Photoshop CS2:  Color Correction, Cleanup

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