Horsehead Nebula, IC434

Jan/Feb 2021

Imaging: ST120 achro, Canon 1000D 400ISO, L-Pro filter
Subs: 288x120s (9.6h), bias, darks, and flats
Software: NINA, Phd2, PixInsight

(Additional notes below)

Gallery

Notes

This is a DSO favorite for amateur astrophotographers, the Horsehead Nebula (and Flame Nebula on the left). This is just above the Orion Nebula and the bright star is Alnitak in Orion's belt. According to Wikipedia, the Horsehead itself is a small dark nebula, but it shows distinctly against the red background formed by the active, star-forming HII region. The Horsehead is approximately 1,375 LY from Earth.

I captured this over 7 nights from late Jan 2021 through early Feb 2021. This was the first for my "improved" imaging setup comprising straight 2" through (removed the 2"-1.25" adapter), guided, and with L-Pro filter. The L-Pro filter helps with the light pollution without losing too much of the color of targets such as this. This area is actually redder than shown here but my DSL camera is not as sensitive to Ha (hydrogen alpha) emssions.