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rodelaet
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/28/06
Posts: 3063
Loc: 50°56' N - 4°58' E (Belgium)
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The Ghost of Alnitak
There is a fine emission nebula to be found at the eastern end of Orion’s Belt, called NGC 2024. This large (30’x30’) but elusive cloud of gas and dust is often overlooked because it is so close to the overpowering glare of Alnitak (Zeta Orionis). NGC 2024 is only 15’ separated from this bright Belt star. Look for a brightening as large as the full moon NE of Alnitak. It takes practice and patience to observe NGC 2024 in its full glory. Under dark skies, a pair of 15x70 binoculars allow us to see the 3’ wide lane of dark matter, running from S to NW through the centre of the nebula. The western lobe of the nebula is rather small and harder to observe due to its proximity to Alnitak. The eastern lobe appears mottled. It also displays a smaller dark lane, which exits the nebula at its NE edge. NGC 2024 has multiple nicknames: the burning bush nebula, the lips nebula, the tank tracks nebula and the flame nebula.
Site : Le Castellard Melan, France ( 44° N )
Date : September 29, 2008
Time : around 01.30UT
Binoculars : TS Marine 15x70
FOV: 4.4°
Filter : none
Mount : Trico Machine Sky Window
Seeing : 2/5
Transp. : 4/5
Sky brightness : 21.4 magnitudes per square arc second near zenith (SQM reading).
Nelm: 6.5
Sketch Orientation: N up, W right.
Digital sketch made with Corel Paint Shop Pro X2, based on a raw pencil sketch.
(Note: if the sketch does look too dark on your monitor, try to darken the room.)
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Rony
My Astronomical Sketches
My Binocular Sketches
Callibrate your Monitor with this little strip.
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cildarith
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/26/04
Posts: 2357
Loc: San Diego, CA
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That is very... subtle. This one has eluded my 10x50s; perhaps the 20x70s will have a better chance. Thanks for sharing, Rony! 
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Eric
6" f/6 Parks Newtonian
10x50 Bushnell Binocs
CN Sketch Gallery||MinDat Mineral Gallery
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frank5817
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/13/06
Posts: 4084
Loc: Illinois
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Rony,
Wow, another target I can't see. That's beautiful ,Rony. You are keeping busy making my retry list. Great job.
Frank 
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my gallery
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rodelaet
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/28/06
Posts: 3063
Loc: 50°56' N - 4°58' E (Belgium)
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Eric and Frank,
Thank you both for the kind comments.
Eric, those 20x70's should do the job, as I know that you have pretty dark skies at your disposal.
Frank, your scope might do the trick with a nebula filter on this emission nebula. The nebula filter could enhance the contrast and dim Alnitaks glare. Or you could try to keep Alnitak out of the fov.
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Rony
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: 2831
Loc: Lodi, California,
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Rony,
How can anything sketched from Orion be anything other than great...and your sketch certainly is excellent indeed! Superb capture of the Flame Nebula and its subtle structure.
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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
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A wise man can see more from the bottom of a well than a fool can from a mountain top.
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rodelaet
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/28/06
Posts: 3063
Loc: 50°56' N - 4°58' E (Belgium)
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Thank you, Wade.
Have you tried this nebula yourself?
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Rony
My Astronomical Sketches
My Binocular Sketches
Callibrate your Monitor with this little strip.
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