Collecting Photons

Orion molecular cloud

Arguably, this is the second most colourful area in the sky after the Ophiucus-Scorpio meadows. The dominating feature is the pervasive red glow of the giant cloud of gas and dust that encompasses all of Orion and some of the bordering constellations. On the east, the image is framed by the southern part of the Barnard loop, bracketing the Horse head nebula and M42.

This processing of this image has been a long and complicated affair. The background is provided by a longish (4 hrs) set of exposures made with the Canon 135 f2.0 lens closed at f2.8 (350D modified type I, 60x4', iso 800). This has been blended with a mosaic of the sword area made with the C8 (42x4') and with an image of the Horse Head area made with the Megrez fluo (31x8'). Processing included hyperbolic asin in Iris, gradient subtraction and several luminance masked operations on the transfer function (Pix Insight). I have used photoshop CS for the composition and blending of the layers.

More from this area

NGC 1976 - M42 Orion Great Nebula

Mosaic of the Orion complex including M42 and 43 on the bottom, and the reflection nebulae immediately to the north. C8, f6.3; modified 350D. See the link for processing details. Published on the April 2006 issue of "Le Stelle".

B33 "the Horse Head nebula" (Orion)

The Horse Head is almost an astronomical icon, after having being represented countless time. In truth is one of the most striking dark nebulae of all, sticking out in front of the purple hue of the emission nebula IC 434. Two reflection nebulae decorate the frame: NGC 2023 and, farther east IC 435. Processing included digital developing in Iris, a complex gradient subtraction and several luminance masked operations on the transfer function. Finally, I applied several instances of unsharp masking to various portions of the nebula to enhance the contrast of bright and dark areas. Canon 350D, C8, f6.3, 33x8' at iso 800.

NGC 2024 (Orion)

A bright nebula immediately east of ζ Orionis (Alnitak): this is a complex area were dark and bright nebulae are tightly interwoven. This photograph has been the first trial of my homemade auto guider. Canon 300D, C8, f6.3, 14x8' at iso 400.

"the Horse Head complex" (Orion)

A wide field image of the area including the HH nebula and Alnitak. Canon 350D, Megrez 80, f6.0, 14x8' at iso 800.

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Send anything that comes to mind to Gimmi Ratto gimmi@in.cnr.it