A Ghost Yelling in the Sideral Silence

Tarantula Nebula 30 Doradus of the LMC
Sketch and Details by Serge Viellard, translation by Frank McCabe

Tarantula Nebula 30 Doradus of the LMC
Sketch by Serge Viellard ,translation by Frank McCabe

This beautiful nebula was sketched in March of this year using a homebuilt 16 inch travel scope created just for such a vacation trip to the dark skies of Namibia. Below is a rough translation of what Serge Vieillard said about viewing and sketching the Tarantula nebula.

The nebula was so easily seen in the dark sky that pointing the telescope was simple. The view was shocking. The strangely greenish vision nailed me to the eyepiece; I was stunned, frozen. … A ghost yelling in the sidereal silence arises and jumps into the eye. The view is extremely strong with maximum contrast. Infinite details were visible in the filaments of this unbelievable hair net. An OIII filters aids in making this sketch. This is definitively my favorite nebula.