Approximately 1,600 light years away in the constellation Orion is a vast emission nebula known as IC434. It is located just south of Alnitak, the left-most star in Orion's belt. This red glowing gas displays an intricate pattern of clouds and streamers, and part of it is obscured by the famous Horsehead Nebula (Barnard 33), a dark region of dust and non-luminous gas.
NGC2024, the Flame Nebula (lower-left), is an emission nebula near Alnitak. A cluster of hot new stars inside it, but hidden by dust, emit intense ultraviolet light that ionizes the hydrogen gas, causing the atoms to glow red.
This image captures a portion of IC434's nebulosity, the Horsehead, and the Flame. North is toward the left.
See IC434's extended nebulosity
| Exposure |
• 11¾ hours @ -20°C ☞ 46 H-α (red) @ 900 seconds each ☞ 57 full-color @ 15 seconds each to adjust star color • Dusk flats • Camera position angle: 255° |
| Processing |
• Calibration, registeraton, and stretching with PixInsight • Final tweaking in Photoshop CS6 |
| Date and Location |
• January 5/6/10, 2019 • Louisa County, Virginia, USA |
|
Equipment |
• TMB-130SS APO refractor @ f/7 on an A-P 1200 mount • ZWO ASI-1600MC Pro color camera • Guided with an ST-402 camera on a 60mm f/5 scope • Imaging and autoguiding with MaxIm DL 6.20 • Automated image acquisition with ACP Observatory Control |
The cloud of glowing hydrogen gas extends far toward the northwest of (above) the Horsehead. Here is my attempt to capture this faint nebulositty.
| Exposure |
• 12½ hours @ -20°C ☞ 50 H-α (red) @ 900 seconds each ☞ 12 full-color @ 15 seconds each to adjust star color • Dusk flats • Camera position angle: 262° |
| Processing |
• Calibration, registeraton, and stretching with PixInsight • Final tweaking in Photoshop CS6 |
| Date and Location |
• January 6 & 10, 2021 • Louisa County, Virginia, USA |
|
Equipment |
• TMB-130SS APO refractor @ f/7 on an A-P 1200 mount • ZWO ASI-1600MC Pro color camera • Guided with an ST-402 camera on a 60mm f/5 scope • Imaging and autoguiding with MaxIm DL 6.20 • Automated image acquisition with ACP Observatory Control |
This region of the winter sky contains several beautiful deep-space objects in addition to the Horsehead and Flame Nebulae pictured above.
Hover your mouse over a yellow arrow below to see the name of an object. Click on the arrow to see my image of it.
Updated May 23, 2023