| The Orion Nebula (M42) is one of the brightest and closest star forming regions to our Solar System, lying about 1500 LY away in the constellation Orion. The Nebula shines due to the ionization of the Hydrogen gas that resides there, a process fueled by the energetic young stars to which this cloud gave birth. Among these stars is the Trapezium, one of the youngest known star clusters in the sky. The above image also contains M43, the smaller flame shaped cloud in the upper left. The Orion Nebula is part of the larger star forming cloud known as the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex, which spans several hundred light years. |
| Date: | February 15, 2007 |
| Optics: | WO 105mm f/7 Apo Refractor - Baader IR Filter |
| Camera: | Canon Digital Rebel 300D / Modified (Hap Griffin) |
| Exposure: | 30 Minutes @ 800ASA |
| Guiding: | Manually guided on a 14" Meade LX200 |
| Location: | Skyhawk Observatory, West Bend, WI |
| Photo By: | Rick Kazmierski |
