Orion Nebula
Catalog Designation: Messier 42
Distance: 1,340 light years
Constellation: Orion
Type: Emission Nebula
The great Orion Nebula is among the most popular targets for both beginner and seasoned astrophotographers alike. It can be seen with the naked eye as a faint gray smudge - even in some of the most light polluted cities. Unsuprisingly, this nebula is often times the first deep-space object many new photographers go for.
Due to its close proxmity to Earth and intense brightness it is one of the most heavily studied emission nebulae in modern astronomy. This stellar nursery is home to many new forming stars and planetary systems. It gives us a glimpse into our own past, and how our own Sun formed from interstellar gases like the Orion Nebula.
Telecope: Askar 80PHQ Refractor, 600mm focal length
Camera: ZWO 533MC Pro
Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro
Accessories: ZWO Electronic Auto Focuser, ZWO Off-Axis Guider, Askar 0.76x Reducer, generic Amazon USB dewband heater
Image 1: 3.3 hours total integration (40 x 10s, 49 x 30s, 34 x 300s) (Bortle 7/8)
Image 2: 2.1 hours total integration (29 x 6s, 30 x 45s, 33 x 180s) (Bortle 7/8)