The Great Nebula in Orion on December 2007, sketched by Deirdre Kelleghan.
At a distance of 1500 light years, the Great Nebula in Orion is the closest region of star formation to us. It is also one of the most magnificent sights in the sky through a small telescope.
M42 December 3rd 2007 00:53 UT – 01:45 UT Wicklow Ireland 200mm Reflector FL 1200mm/ 15mm eyepiece/ 80X Pastels/Gel Pen/Blending stick. Seeing 1 Transparency better than normal, broken street light. South is up
After a day of stormy winds and heavy rain the atmosphere seemed cleaner and more settled than usual. I had sketched Holmes for the last time and turned my scope to the magnificent sword of Orion. M42 is a favorite of mine, it would be a wish to see and sketch it in best possible conditions with best possible equipment. The view would I am sure be overwhelming.
The nebulous star forming clouds seemed to be very liner that evening. From my garden it was one of the best views of it, I had ever seen. It was very cold just around 2 degrees, with a chilling wind, flapping my sketch pad and freezing my fingers.
Dec 2007
Its February 2010 soon the spring and summer constellations will grace our skies and Orion will dip below our evening horizon. So while it is still a jewel in our view try to have a look at it for yourself. Each time I look into the nebula , I am looking back in time but I am also viewing a place of ongoing creation. Within this beautiful gaseous cloud new stars and new planets are being formed , new future worlds to admire and understand.
Below The Orion Nebula reveals many of its hidden secrets in a dramatic image taken by ESO’s new VISTA survey telescope. The telescope’s huge field of view can show the full splendour of the whole nebula and VISTA’s infrared vision also allows it to peer deeply into dusty regions that are normally hidden and expose the curious behaviour of the very active young stars buried there.
Click to read The European Southern Observatories Press Release including video and still images
ESO Photo Release eso1006 - Orion in a New Light
ESO Photo Release eso1006 - Orion in a New Light
Click here for a cool sky map to help you find things for yourself It may not work for everyone , let me know and I will send you another if needed.
Image of Deirdre by Bernard Kelleghan
Global Astronomy Month a worldwide effort to share the night sky with people .
The whole month of April is gearing up to be the biggest star party ever.
Some details , more next month Click Here
You can follow GAM 2010 on Facebook Here
You can follow GAM 2010 on Twitter Here
That's all for now
Deirdre
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