Horsehead and Flame Nebulae

21:52 30/1/2006 UTC

I really wasn't prepared to take images, but sky suddenly and unexpectedly cleared. There was some high clouds around which affected some of the images. However having acquired new equipment - an UHC-S filter from Baader, I just had to image something. M42 had already gone behind the trees, so I tried Horsehead and Flame Nebulae. Horsehead isn't very good target for unmodified DSLR, but I am quite pleased how well it came out. A tad bit better conditions and more exposure will surely bring it out better. My guiding script worked like charm and all the frames were well guided!

NGC/IC Object List:
NGC2024 gaseous nebula RA:05h41m42.5 Dec:-01°50m'43" BMag: , CED 55P

Camera: Canon EOS 350D (Rebel XT) | Telescope: William Optics Zenithstar 66mm f6 petzval refractor | Mount: Orion Skyview Pro, Boxdoerfer PowerFlex MTS-3SLP drive controller | Filters: Baader UHC-S 2" | Guiding: Orion ShortTube 80mm f5 refractor, QCGuider, Phillips ToUCam Pro II webcam | Exposure: 7 x 480s (56m) f6 ISO800, 4 darks, flats | Software: IRIS, GIMP | Location: 60°31'N 26°52'E (Koivula/Kotka,FI) | Seeing: IV | Transparency: 4 | Image Field: 2.195 x 1.644 degrees | Image Center: Ra 05h40m28s Dec -02°07'15" | Target altitude in the beginning of the exposure 22°