My daughters have always referred to this one as "the cotton candy nebula", for obvious reasons to them :-). I ordered this new telescope last summer, but just now getting around to getting all the electronics and adapters playing together. This photo was taken with a 10" newtonian telescope from anttler's optics and my canon 350xt DSLR. It is a composite of 5 3 minute exposures with shorter exposures of the "trapezium" area feathered in to compensate for blown out exposure due to brightness. This nebula, commonly known as the second star in Orion's sword, is easily naked eye visible and by all accounts, HUGE! It is about 4 times wider than a full moon and appears grey and ghostly viewed through binoculars or a low powered telescope. Only the wonder of long exposure photography brings out the amazing detail of this celestial wonder.
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Thank you for continuing to share these. This has beautiful colors. Not sure on the frame, wonder about selecting one of the colors within, rather than the green you have chosen. I also wonder about a variation in composition to allow this nebula to dominate the frame more. I couldn't help but notice the 'shafts' of the star cropped out on the right - perhaps including that (if it wouldn't detract from the .. err, 'star' of the show), or else eliminating those blue elements, may have made this an even stronger image. Of course, I cannot comment on the 'astrotechnicals' - maybe 'one day'.
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