The Belt and Sword region of Orion, with the Orion Nebula, Messiesr 42 and 43, at bottom. Below the left star of the Belt, Alnitak, is the famous Horsehead Nebula, while above it is NGC 2024, aka the Flame Nebula. At very top left is Messier 78, while part of Barnard’s Loop arc across the field at left. The field is filled with other faint red emission and blue reflection nebulas. The large loose open cluster Collinder 70 surrounds the middle star of the Belt, Alnilam. The field is similar to that of binoculars. This is a stack of 16 x 2- to 3-minute exposures with the filter-modified Canon 5D MkII at ISO 800 to 1250 and 200mm Canon L-Series lens at f/2.8. Taken with the Fornax Lightrack tracker as part of testing. Taken from home on January 8, 2019 in a clear couple of hours between haze patches, and while battling dying batteries for the drive and camera. Diffraction spikes added with Astronomy Tools. Main images stacked with Median stack mode to eliminate satellite trails from geosats that populate this area of sky.
The Belt of Orion, enmeshed in nebulosity, emission and reflection, including the famous Horsehead Nebula at left below Zeta Orionis, aka Alnitak, and with NGC 2024 the Flame Nebula above Zeta. Numerous bits of dark and reflection nebulosity fill the area as well as a large cluster of blue stars, Collinder 70.
Belt of Orion with Horsehead and Flame Nebulas. Taken Jan 19, 09 with 77mm f/4 Borg astrograph lens (300mm focal length) and Canon 20Da camera at ISO 400 for 4 x 18 minute exposures. On AP Mach 1 mount. Autoguided with SBIG ST402 camera and PHD Guider. Excellent night but lots of snow and sky was good but somewhat lit by snow illumination.
