Details

• Rig: QHY268C + Sky-Watcher ED80 DS Pro + HEQ5 Pro
• Software: NINA/PixInsight
• Filters: Antlia Triband RGB
• Constellation: Orion

    Integration time (running total):
    * OSC 307 X 180s (921m)
    * Total: 15h21m

Notes

January has been a better month for clear skies making astro imaging possible once again. Hooray! M78 in Orion is a reflection nebula approx 1600 light years from Earth with NGC2071 to its North. Also visible is part of the H-Alpha cloud known as Barnard’s Loop which encircles the left-hand/East side of the constellation. Barely visible on following the line of the dark lane in the centre of M78 South, just to the right/West of two very red stars, is the star V1647 Ori which illuminated McNeil’s Nebula , a variable nebula discovered by amateur astronomer Jay McNeil from Kentucky when it flared up in 2004. It reappeared in 2008 and then in 2018 it was reported as being no longer visible.

This is a target which I think is best photographed as little of the detail is visible visually (especially in the UK midlands!) Unfortunately, light pollution and the low altitude make it a difficult target to process.