vdB49
Reflection Nebula in Orion
About
A reflection nebula in Orion lit by ω Orionis, a blue giant of 4th magnitude about 1,500 light-years away. It lies on the edge of Barnard's Loop, the huge arc of gas centred roughly on the Orion Nebula.
Imaging tips
- One source gives about 6′, too small to frame at ordinary focal lengths: use a long focal length and a fine pixel scale.
- One imager found that the glare of ω Orionis makes the nebula's own detail hard to record, while a broader glow to the north-west shows more easily.
- One imager shot ten 6-minute exposures at 1278 mm through a moon-and-skyglow filter; another gathered 5 h 20 min of LRGB data in 10-minute exposures.
- A reflection nebula, so broadband (LRGB or one-shot colour) is the right choice.
- Best around December; it peaks near 44° altitude from 50°N.
Facts
- Size
- 5′
- Magnitude
- —
- Coordinates
- RA 5h 39.2m, Dec +4° 7′
- Framing, APS-C
- longer than 4000 mm
- Framing, full frame
- longer than 4000 mm
- Best months
- Dec
- Peak altitude
- 44° from 50°N, 59° from 35°N