WadeVC
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/02/05
Posts: 2834
Loc: Lodi, California,
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Although I had taken a quick peek at M42 earlier last month, I had deliberately refrained from taking my time to observe it in any detail until now. As all my other observations of M42 had been with my 70mm (other than my quick peek mentioned above) I had wanted to wait until Orion was riding high in the sky so I could take in this well-known nebula in my 10" Dob.
My wait was not in futility, that is for sure!! Holy Cow, I never could have imagined just how large and defined M42 actually would appear in the EP! This is just an AWESOME sight in the night sky. I was not prepared for the nebula to take up almost the entire FOV of my EP.
One interesting aspect I noticed while observing M42 that I never paid any attention to in photos I have seen, was the nebulosity that seems to be emitting from the star just north of M42. That was a nice surprise as well.
Not only is this nebula large, but it definitely appears to get larger and larger the longer I observed it...especially when using averted vision to detect the finer outer edges of the nebula. M42 will definitely be observed many more times during the winter, and I am anxious to see what finer details might be revealed when I get some filters.
Anyway, here is how it appeared to me:
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Orion XTi10 f/4.7
Orion XTi8 f/5.9
Meade NGC 70mm f/10
Orion UltraView 10x50 Wide-Angle Binoculars
My Sketch Gallery
My Astronomy Blog
A wise man can see more from the bottom of a well than a fool can from a mountain top.
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novbabies
Postmaster
Reged: 06/05/05
Posts: 15678
Loc: Northern Georgia!
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Nice sketch, Wade - actually, unless I'm mistken, the "the nebulosity that seems to be emitting from the star just north of M42" is in reality M43 ... a twofer !
In your 10", unless the skies were particularly hazy or your LP is moderate, I'm surprised you didn't see more of the details generally seen in 10" and higher scopes....tendrils, festoons, mottling, etc. This being the case, have you tried with a narrowband or OIII filter for comparison? That would make a couple or three interesting sketches  !
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Good Seeing!
Mark
Orion 12" XTi f/4.9
VERY old Edmund 6" f/8 reflector
Assorted binoculars
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JimPie
sage
Reged: 11/10/07
Posts: 474
Loc: S.E.Michigan
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Wade
Nice,Very Nice, I had to increase the brightness on my monitor to see it all. you even captured a little of M43 too.
Question: Do you make ajustments for sky glow or just leave the image as is before reversing the image? Im asking becouse Im thinking about trying to do some sketches.
Jim
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Jim
12.5",f=4.8 truss dob
EQ platform,24mm pan,14mm radian, vixen LVs
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WadeVC
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/02/05
Posts: 2834
Loc: Lodi, California,
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Mark & Jim, thank you for the kind words. 
Quote:
Question: Do you make ajustments for sky glow or just leave the image as is before reversing the image? Im asking becouse Im thinking about trying to do some sketches.
Jim, I simply reverse the image (sketch) and then use the original as a template to create a digital sketch in PhotoShop.
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Orion XTi10 f/4.7
Orion XTi8 f/5.9
Meade NGC 70mm f/10
Orion UltraView 10x50 Wide-Angle Binoculars
My Sketch Gallery
My Astronomy Blog
A wise man can see more from the bottom of a well than a fool can from a mountain top.
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John K
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/26/05
Posts: 1649
Loc: Vernon BC Canada
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Here is a sketch of M42 I did last February with my 10" dob and an O-III filter in mag 4.5 skys.It only gets much better from here with darker skys.
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RASC Member (Okanagan)
Home built 15"f5 Obsession clone
8"f6 Antares Dob
Celestron Skymaster 15x70
Howie Glatter laser pointer/Blug
Lumicon 2"OIII 2"UHC
Eyepieces 31mm Nagler,21mm Ethos,13mm Ethos,10mm Ethos,6mm Delos,2X Barlow, Antares 1.6X Barlow,TV Paracorr Type1
Edited by John K (11/18/07 02:00 PM)
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WadeVC
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/02/05
Posts: 2834
Loc: Lodi, California,
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Quote:
"the nebulosity that seems to be emitting from the star just north of M42" is in reality M43 ... a twofer
THAT is just awesome. I am not familiar enough with the Messiers to take a look at one and to be able to say "Hey, it is M so-and-so". Naturally the better-known Messiers I am familiar with, but many of them are like brand new compared to what was observeable in my old 70mm...
I have yet to see all the Messiers, something I am hoping to correct this year with the new "lawn cannon". 
Thanks for the info everyone.
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Orion XTi10 f/4.7
Orion XTi8 f/5.9
Meade NGC 70mm f/10
Orion UltraView 10x50 Wide-Angle Binoculars
My Sketch Gallery
My Astronomy Blog
A wise man can see more from the bottom of a well than a fool can from a mountain top.
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frank5817
Postmaster
Reged: 06/13/06
Posts: 7212
Loc: Illinois
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Wade and John,
Two very nice sketches of M-42 centered on the Trapezium. 
Good, moonless, transparent nights from dark locations make for complex sketching, which you can begin to get a sense of in John's filtered sketch.
Frank 
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My Gallery
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CarlosEH
Postmaster
Reged: 01/19/05
Posts: 6714
Loc: Pembroke Pines, Broward County...
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Wade and John,
Excellent observations of the Great Nebula in Orion. This birthplace of stars never fails to impress me. You have both captured it nicely. Thank you for sharing them with us all.
Links to previous observations of M42;
http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/attachments/1366669-Orionnebula.jpg
http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/attachments/1426297-Orionnebcore021407.jpg
Carlos
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kraterkid
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/07/05
Posts: 4709
Loc: Jacumba, California
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Excellent sketches Wade and John! I love the Great Neb because the more you study it, the more the subtle details seem to come to your attention. Well done!
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Rich
My CN Gallery
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rodelaet
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/28/06
Posts: 3185
Loc: 50°56' N - 4°58' E (Belgium)
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Beautiful sketch, Wade!!
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Rony
'The Casual Sky Observer's Guide.'
My Astronomical Sketches
My Binocular Sketches
Callibrate your Monitor with this little strip.
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WadeVC
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/02/05
Posts: 2834
Loc: Lodi, California,
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Frank, Carlos, Rich & Rony...thank you!
Not only do I need to get some filters, I was talking to a buddy of mine who echoed what others here did as well. He said that M42 is so big and has that "WOW" factor that often times can be overwhelming when first observed in larger scopes. He too suggested revisiting M42, and just spend a LOT of time observing it as this nebula will give up some very fine, filamentary detail and other "goodies" with continued and prolonged observations.
So, it looks like I am just gonna' have to force myself to re-observe this fantastic nebula...I hate it when that happens! 
Thanks for all the kind words and suggestions!!
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Orion XTi10 f/4.7
Orion XTi8 f/5.9
Meade NGC 70mm f/10
Orion UltraView 10x50 Wide-Angle Binoculars
My Sketch Gallery
My Astronomy Blog
A wise man can see more from the bottom of a well than a fool can from a mountain top.
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