The flame nebula (NGC 2024) and horsehead nebula (Barnard 33)
by Vern on Feb.03, 2006, under Astronomy, Dark Nebula, Deep sky, Diffuse Nebula
Despite yesterdays dire weather predictions of snow and wind here in the Denver area, views from the backyard last night were better than expected. The transparency wasn’t great, lots of high thin clouds visible. Large banks of clouds were moving rapidly across the sky. One of my neighbors was out drawing circles in the clouds with a spot light. Turbulence was only fair, maybe 5/10. I set up the Stellacam2 and F3.3 focal reducer on the Nexstar11. Despite all the negatives, the flame or burning bush nebula was pretty impressive on the notebook screen. I was moved to reflect at how marvelous the Orion region of the sky is. Thankfully, God created such wonders for us to explore.
Encouraged by views of NGC 2024, I decided to give another try at locating the elusive horse head. Armed with an excellent widefield image of the Alnitak region I found on the internet, I moved slowly south from Alnitak, a half screen at a time, comparing the stars on the widefield image with those on the monitor. After I reached the location where it was supposed to be, I adjusted the integration time and gain on the Stellacam2. I was quite amazed to find that the dim outline of the horsehead was easily seen. I’ve been searching for this object since I bought the Stellacam2 over two years ago.
2 comments for this entry:
February 3rd, 2006 on 1:38 pm
Wow!!!.I have to keep trying with the DSLR!.
February 3rd, 2006 on 8:01 pm
Andrew,
I’m tempted to try a DSL on this object as well. A number of people have taken some fabulous images of this region with various Canons and Nikons. I always find it humbling to see what imagers with excellent equipment and skill produce.