The Great Orion Nebula

Date: 20 February 2007 U.T.
Time: 4:20 - 4:50 U.T.
Telescope: 30cm Newtonian
Magnifications: 61x and 155x
NELM: 6.5
Seeing: Poor
Temperature: +24 F (-4 C)

The Great Orion Nebula, also known as M42 is one of the brightest and most beautiful nebulae in the night sky! This large nebula practically fills the field of view at 61x. In its brightest regions it's possible for some people to see color. I noted a weak greenish glow in the brightest parts of the nebula and a hint of red in some of the other areas.

Within the brightest part of M42 is a tight group of four stars known as the Trapezium. At 155x I was able to see a fifth star in the Trapezium without much difficulty. A sixth star was more difficult due to the poor seeing conditions; but it was occasionally suspected near the glow of the brightest member of the 'big four.' On a good night I've seen all six stars with ease while using a considerably smaller (13cm) telescope.

M42 is a very irregularly shaped nebula. It has many curves and regions of widely varying brightness. I used the low magnification of 61x in order to be able to see the entire nebula at once; but it's well worth the time to study individual parts under higher magnification.

M43 shares the field with M42. It's much smaller in size, has a semi-bright star within it, and has the shape of a fat comma. While having separate entrees in the Messier Catalog, M42 and M43 are parts of the same nebula complex.

Before ending the session I swung the scope around to Saturn for a quick look at one of our solar system's real show-pieces. Saturn is always a joy to behold!

Even if I weren't too tired to continue observing I would have had to quite soon due to increasing clouds. As I was bringing the scope, etc. back inside more and more stars were disappearing behind the thickening clouds.