The Orion Nebula (also known as Messier 42, M42, or NGC 1976) is a diffuse nebula situated in the Milky Way, being south of Orion’s Belt in the constellation of Orion. It is one of the brightest nebulae and is visible to the naked eye in the night sky with apparent magnitude 4.0. It is 1,344 ± 20 light-years away and is the closest region of massive star formation to Earth. The M42 nebula is estimated to be 24 light-years across (so its apparent size from Earth is approximately 1 degree). It has a mass of about 2,000 times that of the Sun.
The Orion Nebula is one of the most scrutinized and photographed objects in the night sky and is among the most intensely studied celestial features. The nebula has revealed much about the process of how stars and planetary systems are formed from collapsing clouds of gas and dust. Astronomers have directly observed protoplanetary disks and brown dwarfs within the nebula, intense and turbulent motions of the gas, and the photo-ionizing effects of massive nearby stars in the nebula.
M42, Orion Nebula
One of my first astrophotos with the CPC925 reflector and my Nikon D800 camera was of the Orion nebula. I used the program Nebulosity to stack some 5 exposures taken in my Stuvsta garden, December 2014.
M42, Orion Nebula
So where is the Orion nebula? Well, it can only be seen in the winter when the Orion constellation is visible. You find the nebula as part of the belt of Orion.
9 minutes exposure with 24mm lens on Nikon D800 camera in Åva, January 2018.
M42, Orion Nebula
This is how M42 may look from a dark place in mid-winter. Photo in Åva, March 2016.
M42, Orion Nebula
Using a telephoto lens of 70mm on the Nikon D800 camera, the M42 nebula becomes more visible. Photo in Åva March 2016. Astrotracker used.
M42, Orion Nebula
Switching to 300mm focal length brings out more detail of the nebula. On top of the reddish M42 nebula another, reflection type nebula called “The running man” becomes visible. The trail of a meteor is also visible.
26*15s exposure at ISO800 with Nikon D800 camera in Stuvsta, January 2016. Lens is 200mm but using DX-format. Astrotracker used.
M42, Orion Nebula
Another promnent nebula complex lies a bit above the Orion nebula, close to the belt of Orion. Here we can find the flame nebula and the horsehead nebula.
200mm lens on Nikon D800 camera. Photo in Åva, December 2016. Astrotracker used.
M42, Orion Nebula
Using my APO107 refractor with the Nikon D800 camera gives more detail than the telephoto lenses.
29*1min and 5*90s exposure without light pollution filter in Stuvsta January 2021.. -10 centigrade and very clear evening.
M42, Orion Nebula
M42 photographed with APO107 refractor telescope and Nikon D800 camera in Åva, March 2018. Exposure 6*2min and stacked with Pixinsight.
M42, Orion Nebula
M42 with APO94 telescope and ASI 2600MC color camera in Stuvsta, December 2021.
30*3min exposure with IDAS NB1 narrowband filter and post-processing in Pixinsight.
M42, Orion Nebula
M42. This is a mosaic of four individual pictures taken with the APO107 telescope and the Atik 360EX monochrome CCD camera.
Each picture has 10min of each R, G and B filters and 50min with Ha filter. Stacked and combined in Pixinsight.
M42, Orion Nebula
M42. Photographed with the APO107 refractor telescope and the ASI 2600MC color camera in Stuvsta November 2021. Exposure is 14*4 min with the L-eXtreme narrowband filter and post-processing in Pixinsight.
M42, Orion Nebula
M42. Photographed with the CPC925 telescope and the Nikon D800 camera in Åva February 2016. Exposure is 8*15s, unguided.
