Horsehead nebula is one of the most challenging deep sky objects. Also one of my favourites.
I made this sketch using a 8″ Newtonian and a UHC filter under very dark and transparent skies (close to 7th naked eye magnitude). The region around Zeta Orionis is rich with nebulae, 4 of which can be seen here: The famous “Flame” (top), a little NGC2023 (middle), large and faint IC434 (right) and of course the tiny “Horsehead” dark nebula inside IC434. Only a hint of it can be noticed, without any significant details we usually see in long exposure photos.
Equipment: 8″ F/5 Newtonian, UHC filter.
Name: IC434, NGC 2023, NGC 2024, B33
Type: Emission and dark nebulae
Constellation: Orion
Location: Negev desert, southern Israel
Date: 01-02/11/2008 , 02:00
Conditions: good seeing, ~6.9m sky.
Media: Graphite pencils, white paper, red light.
Scanned and processed in Photoshop
Michael,
This is a terrific sketch and reminds me of the very first sketch posted here by Bill Ferris back in mid-March 2007. With the right transparency and filter much of the region of the horsehead comes into view. Of course seeing it is one thing, capturing it so beautifully in a sketch is matter altogether.
Beautiful work.
Frank 🙂
That’s amazing, man. Congratulations both on your obsevation and sketch.