M42 - Great Orion Nebula

M42 - Great Orion Nebula

This picture has actually two nebula's.  The larger nebula to the right is the Orion Nebula and the blue nebula to the left is called "Running Man Nebula".  Orion is located in the Orion Constellation.  There are three stars that form the sword or dagger of Orion.  The central star is actually this nebula.  It is the brightest and most famous nebula in the night sky.  It can easily be seen by the unaided eye.  Orion is the birth place of stars.  It has three bright stars in it's center, which light up the nebula.  It is believed to the creating new stars in the bright core.

Date:  01-03-2003

Telescope: Tak FSQ 106        Camera:ST8XE                

Exposure Time: LRGB 20min 1x1bin ;5min;5min;5min; 2x2bin

Processing: Flats, Darks, etc; Maxim, Adobe combined