M42 - The Orion Nebula (H-alpha)

20:52 27/11/2006 UTC

I've been waiting to get first H-alpha exposures of this target. This really was a test to my mount if it can handle 10m exposures of targets near celestial equator. I had setup my mount so that trees didn't allow me to expose more. Tracking worked like a charm. In long term I am after the faint whisps of nebulosity which barely started to show in this image. About 2 to 3 hours more should bring them up. Core is exposed through Ha leakage in Green channel. No need to waste time to short exposures...

NGC/IC Object List:
NGC1976 gaseous nebula RA:05h35m17.1 Dec:-05°23m'25" BMag: 4.0, M 42 Orion Nebula
NGC1982 gaseous nebula RA:05h35m31.3 Dec:-05°16m'03" BMag: 9.0, M 43
NGC1977 open cluster RA:05h35m18.0 Dec:-04°49m'00" BMag: , OCL 525

Camera: Modified Canon EOS 350D | Telescope: Skywatcher ED80 Pro 80mm f7.5 refractor, William Optics 0.8x focal reducer | Mount: Orion Skyview Pro, Boxdoerfer PowerFlex MTS-3SLP drive controller | Filters: Astronomik H-alpha 13nm 2" | Guiding: Orion ShortTube 80mm f5 refractor, QCGuider, Teleskop-Service 1.5x Barlow, Phillips ToUCam Pro II webcam | Exposure: 7x600s (1h10m) ISO800 f6, 4 darks, 13 flats, bias | Software: IRIS, GIMP | Location: 60°31'N 26°52'E (Koivula/Kotka,FI) | Image Field: 2.335 x 1.747 degrees | Image Center: Ra 05h35m07s Dec -05°33'01" | Target altitude in the beginning of the exposure 18°