The Great Orion Nebula (M42) is probably the most popular and brightest target nebula in the Northern hemisphere for astrophotographers.

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M42 Orion Nebula

Click the picture for a larger version, then hit Back when done.

This image taken with my LX-modded SPC900NC on my C6-SGT XLT scope on EQ5 mount is far superior than I have taken of [2] M42 in the past with my XT10i dobsonian and SPC900NC webcam before it was modified in any way.

To my amusement I can make out the imaginary shape of a baboon in this image of M42! Looking at the upper right section of the image there are 2 stars which look like eyes, and typically baboon like eyebrows, and then slightly below and right in the darker red nebulosity is the downturned shape of his pouting mouth. Then expanding outwards around this you can imagine the outlines of his face, shoulders, and crouched down back. Can you see what I mean?

The image was created from 10 x 12 second exposures (plus darks, flat and bias frames) captured using WxAstrocapture (AVI), imported into K3CCDTools, then exported as individual frames in TIF format, then stacked, aligned and post-processed in Nebulosity, then the detail teased out using Photoshop.

02/10/2011: 150mm C6-SGT with f/3.3 Meade Focal Reducer, SPC900NC/LX (640×480) and WxAstrocapture, unguided, K3CCDTools to TIF

10×12s lights, darks-bias, flats-bias, Nebulosity, Photoshop (Starspikes Pro plugin)