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M42, the Great Orion Nebula, is the showpiece object of the
northern hemisphere. It is easily seen by naked eye as a slightly fuzzy "star" at the center of Orion
the Hunter's sword. M42 is the most photographed object beyond our solar system due to its large size and
brightness. M42 is also an excellent visual target for all size telescopes and binoculars, with or without
nebula filters.
At the core of M42 is the Trapezium cluster. Even small telescopes can see this tight cluster of 4 bright
stars, but photographs usually overexpose this area. Larger telescopes will show 5 or 6 Trapezium stars. The Great
Orion Nebula is a bright starbirth region in a much larger cloud of gas and dust covering half the Orion constellation. The
bright roundish area across the dust lane from the main nebula has been numbered M43, though it appears to be part
of the same structure. The dark nebula forming the dust lane has been nicknamed the "Fish's Mouth".
Object Details: Type:
Emission nebula Constellation: Orion Distance:
1600 light-years Size: 30 light-years
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M42 Trapezium Area
Color from below with H-Alpha Luminance Date: 7-Feb-2015 Site:
Harahan, LA Conditions: Average Exposure: 12x30s,
12x60s, 12x90s Filters: 2" Baader 7nm H-Alpha Processing: MSB Astroart 5.0 Telescope: 8" f/10
Celeston EdgeHD Reducer: Celestron 0.7x (f/7) Image CCD: SX SXVR-H694 Mono Guide CCD: SX MX7C (1.88x Barlow) Guide Scope: AT66ED, ScopeStuff
TBSX
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M42 Trapezium Area
Scale: 7 x 5 light years Date: 2-Feb-2013 Site:
Harahan, LA Conditions: Unsteady, Moist Exposure: 20x30s,
10x60s, 10x90s Filters: IDAS LPS-V4 48mm Processing: MSB Astroart 5.0 Telescope: 8" f/10 Celeston
EdgeHD Image CCD: SX SXVF-H9C Guide CCD: SX MX7C
(1.88x Barlow) Guide Scope: AT66ED, ScopeStuff TBSX
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M42/M43 (Orion Nebula) Scale: 27 x 20 light years Date: 10/22/07 & 11/04/07 Site:
Harahan, LA Conditions: Clear, Moist Exposure: 49x4m,
12x30s Filters: IDAS LPS-P48 Processing: MSB Astroart 3.0/5.0 Telescope:
4" Tak FSQ-106N Reducer: None (f/5.0) Image CCD: SX SXV-H9C Guide CCD: SX MX7C Guide Scope: Vixen ED80Sf
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M42/M43 (Orion Nebula) Date: Dec. 25, 2005 Site: Harahan, LA CCD Duration: 5s, 15s, 2m, 5m Total
Exposure: 1.21 hours Filters: Orion SkyGlow LPR Processing: MSB Astroart 3.0 Telescope:
4" Tak FSQ-106N Reducer: None (f/5.0) CCD: Starlight Express MX7C Autoguider: S.T.A.R. 2000
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M42/M43 (Orion Nebula) Date: Oct. 19, 2003 Site: Harahan, LA Exposure (main):
CCD, 5 x 2 min. Exposure (core): CCD, 5 x 30 sec. Filters:
Orion SkyGlow LPR Processing: MSB Astroart 3.0 Telescope: 10" Meade LX200 Reducer: Meade f/3.3 CCD:
Starlight Express MX7C Autoguider: S.T.A.R. 2000
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M42/M43 (Orion Nebula) Date: Jan. 8, 2003 Site: Harahan, LA Camera: Olympus OM-1 Film: Kodak Supra 400 Exposure: 6 x 15 min. Filters:
Lumicon Deep-Sky LPR Processing: MSB Astroart 3.0 Telescope: 10" Meade LX200 Reducer: Lumicon
GEG f/5.8 Autoguider: MX7C/S.T.A.R. 2000
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Orion's Sword (w/ M42) Date: Nov. 2, 2003 Site: Harahan, LA Exposure: CCD, 5 x 45 sec. Lens: 135 mm, f/2.8 Filters:
K2 yellow Processing: MSB Astroart 3.0 CCD: Starlight Express MX7C Autoguider: S.T.A.R. 2000
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