Messier 42/43 (M 42/43) - Orion/De Mairan's Nebula

Introduction | Map | Sketch | Pseudo Photo (Stellarium) | My Best Own Photos | My Own Observations | References || Appendix: My Own Photos

On this page I collect my observations of the galactic emission nebula M 42 (NGC 1976), called Orion Nebula, and its part M 43 (NGC 1982), called De Mairan's Nebula, in the Orion constellation.

 

Introduction

The Orion Nebula M 42 together with its "annex" M 43 (De Mairan's Nebula) is probably the largest galactic emission nebula in the northern sky. It is found in Orion's sword, that is, in the constellation Orion, and at least the sword is usually visible to the naked eye. M 43 was formerly considered as a separate nebula, but today it is regarded as part of M 42 (which is again debated...). In winter, M 43 (De Mairan's Nebula) is located slightly above M 42.

It is said that the Orion Nebula can be seen with the naked eye. This definitely depends on the viewing conditions, but the sword can be seen shimmering in any case when it is dark enough. It is difficult to tell for me what exactly is the the nebula in all this shimmering... Using binoculars, one can already see the nebula well and within it two bright stars. One of them is the Trapezium, an arrangement of 4 closely spaced stars at the center of the nebula. I was, however, able to resolve the Trapezium only at higher magnifications in the telescope.

In simple terms, the Orion Nebula has approximately the same size as the Moon or Sun (25 'x 30'). How extended it actually appears depends, on the one hand, on the viewing conditions and, on the other hand, on the dark adaptation of one's own eyes.

Size: 25' x 30' (Stoyan)
Distance: 1,300 light years (Stoyan)
Ranking: ***** (Stoyan)

 

Map

M 42 and M 43 in Orion's sword (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

 

Sketch

The sketch by Michael Vlasov (DeepSkyWatch.com) provides a rough impression of what I observed in February 2017 (my impression was much fainter than the sketch):

Sketch of the Orion Nebula by Michael Vlasov (Copyright © Michael Vlasov 2016) - presented with the author's permission

 

Pseudo Photo (Stellarium)

    

Pseudo photo of M 42 taken from Stellarium (large version, larger version)

 

For comparison: M 42/43 with Sony RX10 M4, 4 photos stacked in Affinity Photo (average), processed

 

My Best Own Photos

Atik Infinity & Explorer 150PDS (February 21, 2018)

         

M 42 (Orion), unprocessed

 

Ditto, processed and sharpened

 

Ditto, processed alternatively and sharpened

600 x 600 section with 1:1 pixels in the large version

Atik Infinity & TLAPO1027 (March 23/24, 2021)

         

M 42/43 - March 23, 2021, processed

 

M 42/43 - March 23, 2021, processed

 

M 42/43 - March 23, 2021, processed

         

M 42/43 - March 24, 2021, processed

 

M 42/43 - March 24, 2021, processed

 

M 42/43 - March 24, 2021, processed

ZWO ASI224 (PS 72/432)

M 42/43 - Apr 8, 2021, 21 frames, 10 s, gain 134, processed

Sony RX10 M4

    

M 42/43 - Feb 12, 2021, ISO 1600, processed, section

 

M 42/43 - Feb 12, 2021, 4 photos stacked in Affinity Photo (average), processed, section

eVscope

M 42/43 (Orion Nebula)

         

M 42 - Mar 18, 2020

 

M 42 - Nov 17, 2020

 

M 42 - Nov 17, 2020

   

M 42 - Mar 18, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 42 - Nov 17, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 42 - Nov 17, 2020, photo on top processed

M 43 (De Mairan's Nebula)

        

M 43 - Mar 18, 2020

 

M 43 - Mar 18, 2020, processed

 

eVscope 2

    

M 42 - Jan 18, 2023 (third sample)

 

M 42 - Jan 18, 2023, photo left processed

Vespera

    

M 42/43, Jan 18, 2023 - original (65 frames = 640s)

 

M 42/43, Jan 18, 2023 - large (65 frames = 640s), processed

 

M 42/43 with NGC 1977, NGC 1980, and NGC 1981 (at the top), Jan 18, 2023 - original (241 frames = 2410s), mosaic

 

M 42/43 with NGC 1977, NGC 1980, and NGC 1981 (at the top), Jan 18, 2023 - large (241 frames = 2410s), processed

 
M 42/43 with NGC 1981 on top, Feb 20, 2023 - large, 2840s, mosaic, Dual Band Filter, photo left processed (PSE)  

M 42/43 with NGC 1981 on top, Feb 20, 2023 - large, 2840s, mosaic, Dual Band Filter, photo left processed (DN)

    

M 42/43, Jan 26, 2024 - original (120 frames = 1200s), CLS Filter

 

M 42/43, Jan 26, 2024 - large (120 frames = 1200s), CLS Filter, processed

 

My Own Observations

Observations Winter 2015/16

Observations February to Mid-March 2017

When I used the GoTo control for the first time, I started my observations with M 42 and afterwards returned to it from time to time to check whether the GoTo control was still correctly adjusted.

Observations End of March 2017

Observations November 2017

Observations December 2017 - April 2018

Observations February 2019

Observations October 2019

Observations End of December 2019 to April 2020

Observations November 2020

Observations January to April 2021

Observations December 2021 to April 2022

Observations January to February 2023

Observations January to March 2024

 

References

Websites

On this Site


Appendix: My Own Photos

Atik Infinity & Explorer 150PDS (February 12, 2018)

         

M 42 (Orion), post-processed and sharpened

 

Ditto,brighter in second step

 

Ditto, b&w version

Further later post-processing attemps:

        

Ditto, once again created from the unprocessed original in one step

 

Ditto, processed to be brighter

 

Ditto, created from "replay stack" in one step

 

Ditto, same as left, more saturated

600 x 600 section with 1:1 pixels in the large version

Atik Infinity & Explorer 150PDS

         

M 42 (Orion) - Feb 21, 2018, unprocessed

 

Ditto, processed and sharpened

 

Ditto, processed alternatively and sharpened

600 x 600 section with 1:1 pixels in the large version

Atik Infinity & C8

         

M 42/43 - March 15, 2020, f/6.3 reducer/corrector, processed

 

M 42/43 - March 15, 2020, f/6.3 reducer/corrector and 0.5x TS focal reducer, processed

 

M 42/43 - March 15, 2020, f/6.3 reducer/corrector and 0.5x TS focal reducer, processed

Atik Infinity & C5

    

M 42/43 - Feb 13, 2021, f/6.3 reducer/corrector

 

M 42/43 - Feb 13, 2021, f/6.3 reducer/corrector, processed

Atik Infinity & PS 72/432

    

M 42/43 - Mar 19, 2021

 

M 42/43 - Mar 19, 2021

    

M 42/43 - Mar 19, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 42/43 - Mar 19, 2021, photo on top processed

Atik Infinity & TLAPO1027

         

M 42/43 - March 23, 2021

 

M 42/43 - March 23, 2021

 

M 42/43 - March 23, 2021

   

M 42/43 - March 23, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 42/43 - March 23, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 42/43 - March 23, 2021, photo on top processed

         

M 42/43 - March 24, 2021

 

M 42/43 - March 24, 2021

 

M 42/43 - March 24, 2021

   
M 42/43 - March 24, 2021, photo on top processed   M 42/43 - March 24, 2021, photo on top processed   M 42/43 - March 24, 2021, photo on top processed
       
        M 42/43 - March 24, 2021, photo on top processed (Polarr)

Atik Infinity & PS 72/432

         

M 42/43 - Mar 25, 2021

 

M 42/43 - Mar 25, 2021

 

M 42/43 - Mar 25, 2021

         

M 42/43 - Mar 25, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 42/43 - Mar 25, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 42/43 - Mar 25, 2021, photo on top processed

Atik Infinity & PS 72/432

         

M 42/43 - Apr 3, 2021 (30 s?)

 

M 42/43 - Apr 3, 2021 (60 s)

 

M 42/43 - Apr 3, 2021 (15 s)

         

M 42/43 - Apr 3, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 42/43 - Apr 3, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 42/43 - Apr 3, 2021, photo on top processed

Atik Infinity & C5

         

M 42/43 - Apr 4, 2021 (15 s)

 

M 42/43 - Apr 4, 2021 (15 s)

 

M 42/43 - Apr 4, 2021 (15 s)

         

M 42/43 - Apr 4, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 42/43 - Apr 4, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 42/43 - Apr 4, 2021, photo on top processed

ZWO ASI224

    

M 42/43 - Apr 8, 2021, 21 frames, 10 s, gain 134, processed

 

M 42/43 - Apr 8, 2021, 16 frames, 10 s, gain 134, processed

Sony RX10 M4

See page DSO Photos with Sony RX10 M4 - February 2021 for more photos

    

M 42/43 - Feb 12,2021, ISO 1600, processed, section

 

M 42/43 - Feb 12, 2021, 4 photos stacked in Affinity Photo (average), processed, section

eVscope

M 42/43 (Orion Nebula)

         

M 42/43 - Jan 28, 2020, processed

 

M 42/43 - Jan 28, 2020, processed

 

M 42/43 - Feb 5, 2020

   

M 42/43 - Feb 5, 2020, processed

 

M 42/43 - Feb 6, 2020

 

M 42/43 - Feb 6, 2020, processed

     

M 42/43 - Feb 15, 2020, processed

 

M 42/43 - Feb 15, 2020, processed

 

 

     
M 42/43 - Feb 16, 2020  

M 42/43 - Feb 16, 2020, left photo processed

   
   

M 42/43 - Mar 13, 2020, processed

 

M 42 - Mar 18, 2020

 

M 42 - Mar 18, 2020, photo left processed

   

M 42 - Nov 17, 2020

 

M 42 - Nov 17, 2020

 

M 42 - Feb 16, 2021

   

M 42 - Nov 17, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 42 - Nov 17, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 42 - Feb 16, 2021, photo on top processed

   

M 42 - Feb 17, 2021

 

M 42 - Dec 21, 2021

 

M 42 - Jan 24, 2022

   

M 42 - Feb 17, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 42 - Dec 21, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 42 - Jan 24, 2022, photo on top processed

M 43 (De Mairan's Nebula)

      

M 43 - Mar 18, 2020

 

M 43 - Mar 18, 2020, photo left processed

 

M 43 - Jan 24, 2022

 

M 43 - Jan 24, 2022, photo left processed

eVscope 2

M 42/43

         

M 42 - Dec 21, 2021

  M 42 - Jan 24, 2022   M 42 - Jan 24, 2022, with overlay, 5 min
   

M 42 - Dec 21, 2021, photo left processed

 

M 42 - Jan 24, 2022, photo on top processed

 

M 42 - Jan 24, 2022, with overlay, photo on top processed , 5 min

   

M 42 - Feb 5, 2022

 

M 42 - Mar 19, 2022

 

M 42 - Mar 19, 2022

   

M 42 - Feb 5, 2022, photo on top processed

 

M 42 - Mar 19, 2022, photo on top processed

 

M 42 - Mar 19, 2022, photo on top processed

   
M 42 - Mar 20, 2022  

M 42 - Apr 10, 2022

 

M 42 - Apr 17, 2022

   

M 42 - Mar 20, 2022, photo on top processed

 

M 42 - Apr 10, 2022, photo on top processed

 

M 42 - Apr 17, 2022, photo on top processed

   

M 42 - Jan 18, 2023 (third sample), 280 s

 

M 42 - Feb 4, 2023 (third sample), 348 s

 

M 42 - Feb 12, 2023 (third sample), 376 s

   

M 42 - Jan 18, 2023, photo on top processed

 

M 42 - Feb 4, 2023, photo on top processed

 

M 42 - Feb 4, 2023 (third sample), 348 s

M 43 (De Mairan's Nebula)

    

M 43 - Jan 24, 2022

 

M 43 - Jan 24, 2022, photo left processed

 

M 43 - Jan 24, 2022, with overlay, 3 min

 

M 43 - Jan 24, 2022, with overlay, photo left processed , 3 min

Vespera

    

M 42/43, Jan 18, 2023 - original (65 frames = 640s)

 

M 42/43, Jan 18, 2023 - large (65 frames = 640s), processed

 

M 42/43 with NGC 1980, Jan 18, 2023 - original (41 frames = 400s), mosaic

 

M 42/43 with NGC 1980, Jan 18, 2023 - large (41 frames = 400s), mosaic, processed

 

M 42/43 with NGC 1977 and NGC 1980, Jan 18, 2023 - large (241 frames = 2410s), mosaic

 

M 42/43 with NGC 1977 and NGC 1980, Jan 18, 2023 - large (241 frames = 2410s), mosaic, processed

 

M 42/43, Feb 20, 2023 - original, 690s, mosaic, Dual Band Filter, image section

 

M 42/43, Feb 20, 2023 - large, photo left processed, image section

 

M 42/43 with NGC 1981 on top, Feb 20, 2023 - original, 2840s, mosaic, Dual Band Filter

  M 42/43 with NGC 1981 on top, Feb 20, 2023 - large, 2840s, mosaic, Dual Band Filter, photo left processed (PSE)
   
   

M 42/43 with NGC 1981 on top, Feb 20, 2023 - large, 2840s, mosaic, Dual Band Filter, photo left processed (DN)

 

M 42/43 Jan 9, 2024 - original (60 frames = 600s)

 

M 42/43, Jan 9, 2024 - large (60 frames = 600s), processed

    

M 42/43, Jan 26, 2024 - original (120 frames = 1200s), CLS Filter

 

M 42/43, Jan 26, 2024 - large (120 frames = 1200s), CLS Filter, processed

    

M 42/43, Mar 3, 2024 - original (123 frames = 1230s)

 

M 42/43, Mar 3, 2024 - large (123 frames = 1230s), processed