I set out to capture the Great Orion nebula in context of the sounding gas and reflection nebula NGC 1999 and IC 430. I often think in my mind that M42 is the Third Rail of Astrophotography, touch it and pay for it trying to process it. I am mostly pleased with the results and full page view and full resolution images  are worth taking a look. 

I added to this layer of complexity attempting to complete a 2 panel mosaic with the RASA8 of the area. My short subs using 60 second exposure did well with the photometric mosaic, but I must have had more gradient in 3 min exposures that left a noticeable color variation at the seem. I was able to work around it in PS, but still may revisit trying to smooth it further in the future.

Through the processing adventure, I was greatly helped with @Adam Block  's tutorial of M42 with using HSI channel extraction and HDR to bring out the core of M42. I still did some short exposure due the total light collection by the RASA at F2. 

Definitely an improvement from my last a effort from a few years ago

M42 The Great Orion Nebula Ha(Lum) + OSC Complete Redo Edit with Improved Core


 M42 is a diffuse hydrogen emission nebula approximately 1300 light years away in the Orion spur of the Perseus arm of the Milky Way. The nebula is approximately 24 light years across and contains the equivalent mass of the 2000 times the sun. This is the location of the nearest significant star formation region near earth. The nebula can easily be viewed as the middle “star” of the Orion sword scabbard along with m43.

The Running Man Nebula Sh2-279 on the far left hand of the image is a diffuse Hydrogen emission nebula shrouded my refection nebula and dark/dust nebula. It is located 1,500 light years from earth and is 7.5 light years in radius.

NGC 1999 on the right hand side is a bright reflection nebula that has key hole like tunnel through the otherwise bright nebulosity. It has been determined that the dust and gas in this area of have cleared out by stellar winds.