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Orion Nebula (M42)
emission nebula in Orion
The Orion Nebula is a stellar nursery you can spot with the naked eye in Orion's sword. It is bright, colorful and forgiving, so it works with almost any camera and telescope, from a lens on a tracker to a long focal length refractor. The bright core hides the four stars of the Trapezium, and the faint outer wings reach well beyond it.
Save your telescope or lens on the planner to lay your camera frame over this diagram.
// Key facts
- Catalog
- M42
- Type
- emission nebula
- Constellation
- Orion
- Size
- 1.4° across
- Brightness
- Magnitude 4
- Distance
- about 1,350 light-years
- Peak month (any location)
- Dec
- Typical prime months
- Sep to Feb
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Filter
- Dual-band / UHC for the nebula; no filter for the blue reflection and core stars
Pick a saved location or share your device location. Your coordinates are used only to calculate tonight and are not stored. To save locations, use the planner.
How to image Orion Nebula
- The core is far brighter than the outer nebula. Shoot a set of short exposures (a few seconds) and a set of long ones, then combine them so neither area is blown out.
- A dual-band filter lifts the red hydrogen glow and cuts light pollution, but leave it off for the blue reflection nebulosity if you want natural color.
- The little comma of M43 and the Running Man Nebula (NGC 1977) fit in the same wide frame.
Framing: what focal length?
The focal length at which M42 spans about 60% of the long side of the sensor, leaving room around it. Treat it as a starting point; the right framing is a matter of taste.
| Sensor | Focal length |
|---|---|
| 1-inch sensor (13.2 mm) | about 320 mm |
| APS-C (23.5 mm) | about 570 mm |
| Full frame (36 mm) | about 870 mm |
How high does it climb from your latitude?
The highest point M42 reaches in the sky. Above about 60° is excellent, 30° to 60° is workable, and under 30° you are looking through a lot of air.
| Latitude | Highest point | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 55°N (Scotland, Alaska) | 30° | Workable |
| 45°N (Minneapolis, Milan) | 40° | Workable |
| 35°N (Los Angeles, Tokyo) | 50° | Workable |
| 25°N (Miami, Cairo) | 60° | High in the sky |
| 35°S (Sydney, Santiago) | 60° | High in the sky |
Also worth imaging
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