Flame Nebula

[Les]

The lower star of Orion's Belt  is Alnitak at over 10,000 times brighter than the Sun and is capable of illuminating this dark cloud of gas over many light years. This is the Flame Nebula (sometimes nicknamed The Tank Track ) has no light of its own but it may in the far distant future. Over billions of years it might contract into a bright star to rival Alnitak itself, assuming Alnitak is still around both in position and in time.

Taken with a Nikon D3200 DSLR, prime focus on a 406mm f1800mm Newtonian(driven) 3200ISO 30" exposure.  

[Hatter]

Fabulous, Les!

[Denis]

Yes, loving these astro shots too Les.

 

[Clicker]

It's  great to have this genre of photography appearing more often on the Forum ..  Thank Les   and also for the explanation  of what it is and some of the EXIF data . Fascinating  stuff Les ... more of the same please .

Is it possible to  make this Nebula out with the naked eye Les ... on a good cloudless night ?

[Les]

Thanks for all your comments.

HI Clicker,

No this nebula  needs a sizable telescope to glimpse visually. I have seen it with difficulty in the past with a 150mm reflector but have found it takes at least a 200mm reflector to see it comfortably.

Of course it can be photographed with smaller telescopes if the sky is transparent enough with no much light pollution but will require longer exposure times. I have managed to image it with a ordinary telephoto lens so that is possible but a driven mount is needed .

The M42 Great Nebula Of Orion is nearby below the belt in the Sword Handle that is visible with the naked eye and is an interesting object with binoculars.

There is a much fainter extension of the Flame  the contains the Famous Horsehead  Nebula which is backlit by several bright new born stars, but although I have imaged this using the above equipment not well enough to submit anywhere yet,but I'll keep trying.

[Clicker]

Well done on getting POTW too !