Great Orion Nebula M42

Daniel — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 22:02:23 +0000

I managed to get outside again last night and try out my focal reducer and 40mm Antares eyepiece for the first time. The Orion Nebula was a good choice to view as now the whole nebula was visible in the eyepiece by using the focal reducer which reduced the focal length to f6.3 from f10.

The Orion Nebula M42 can be found beneath Orion’s belt (which is the three angled horizontal type stars) .

The Great Orion nebula is situated at the middle of the three smaller vertical stars underneath the belt.

The Great Orion nebula is situated in what is known as the hilt of Orion’s sword.

The diagram is taken from Starry Night Pro.

I then used my Canon DSLR at prime focus to take the two photographs below, both were at ISO800 and both were at varying exposure times, both around the 15 second mark.

I was very happy with the focal reducer and the 40mm eyepiece and can’t wait to use them on the moon.

M45 Pleiades Star Cluster

Daniel — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 11:17:16 +0000

So my first night out with my new Canon 75-300mm USM lens. The Pleiades seemed to be the best test for this new lens on my tripod. So here are some images:

This first image was 5.6f, ISO800, 300mm focal length and a 2 second exposure.

The second pleiades star trail image was 5.6f, ISO800, 300mm focal length and a 30 second exposure.

The individual members of this cluster range from Alcyone at magnitude 2.9 down to very faint stars, probably 500 or more in all. Much of the cluster is enveloped in a blue reflection nebula, known as the Merope Nebula.

A popular name for the cluster is the Seven Sisters, Nine of the stars have names.

The Pleiades were the seven mythological daughters of Atlas and Pleione, and their parents are represented by the two easternmost bright stars.

Astronomy Log » Star Clusters

Great Orion Nebula M42

M45 Pleiades Star Cluster