Deep in Southern Orion - 10/21/2006


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This highly contrast-enhanced image of southern Orion shows the extent of the nebulosity in this region where new stars are forming. Click on the image to see a larger view.
 
Although the Orion region is one of the most often imaged areas by beginners because of large, bright objects such as the Orion Nebula (M42), it is also one of the most challenging areas to photograph because of the extreme range of brightness here. On one hand, it can take hours of exposure to capture the dimmest tendrils of nebulosity while the core of the Orion Nebula begins to overexpose in just a few seconds.
 
Note the streaks that go through the core of the Orion Nebula. These are caused by several geosynchronous satellites which drifted through the field during the exposures. At the lower left edge, the blue flare is caused by a reflection inside the camera.
 
Date/Time:    10/21/2006
Location: Vanishing Point Observatory (OCA Anza Site)
Scope/Lens: Borg 125EDF2.8 @ f/3.3
Camera: Mitsuboshi 6x9 Vacuum Astrocamera
Mount: Losmandy G11
Guider: Borg 45ED / SBIG STV
Media: Medium format Kodak E200, +2 push
Exposure: 7x25 min.