I have seen the peach/rose colors in the outer sections of M42 with a 90mm scope on a particularly dark, clear night. The greenish tint is usually seen in the brighter center under the same conditions. But the distinct red hues of the nebular arcs on either side of the Trapezium area I had never seen until recently through a 28" scope. It is amazing to me how much color M42 has when the aperture is large enough and the night is dark enough. Wow!
-------------------- Don Pensack
12.5" Truss Dob, 5" Maksutov
Sustaining Lifetime IDA member, TeleVue junkie