This image of the Orion Nebula was formed by blending RGB and narrowband data (Ha, OIII and SII). Separate narrowband and RGB-only images have also been prepared. For this particular image, the narrowband data was used to enhance the image without unduly compromising the basic hues in the RGB version.

Total integration: 19.7 hours. To avoid duplicated Astrobin database entries, acquisition details are, or will be, entered for the ‘pure’ RGB and narrowband versions. Nevertheless, details are provided in text format below this description.

The Orion Nebula, also known as M42 and NGC1976, is a very bright diffuse nebula about 1,300 light-years from Earth and can be seen with the naked eye in the constellation of Orion. Four notable stars, known collectively as the ‘Trapezium’ can be seen in the brightest part of the nebula. Also shown is M43, also known as De Mairan’s Nebula, and the NGC1980 star cluster.

There is a very large difference between the brightest and dimmest parts of this nebula, making image processing a bit more complex to simultaneously show all/most elements.

The image was fully processed in PixInsight. The finalized picture was re-sampled by 120% for aesthetic reasons.

Acquisition details:

Astronomik Deep-Sky Blue Filter: 30x120" -20C bin 1x1

Astronomik Deep-Sky Blue Filter: 20x30" -20C bin 1x1

Astronomik Deep-Sky Blue Filter: 24x300" -20C bin 1x1

Astronomik Deep-Sky Blue Filter: 34x5" -20C bin 1x1

Astronomik Deep-Sky Green Filter: 31x120" -20C bin 1x1

Astronomik Deep-Sky Green Filter: 19x30" -20C bin 1x1

Astronomik Deep-Sky Green Filter: 24x300" -20C bin 1x1

Astronomik Deep-Sky Green Filter: 36x5" -20C bin 1x1

Astronomik Deep-Sky Red Filter: 30x120" -20C bin 1x1

Astronomik Deep-Sky Red Filter: 21x30" -20C bin 1x1

Astronomik Deep-Sky Red Filter: 24x300" -20C bin 1x1

Astronomik Deep-Sky Red Filter: 36x5" -20C bin 1x1

Astronomik Ha Filter: 8x600" -20C bin 1x1

Astronomik Ha Filter: 18x300" -20C bin 1x1

Astronomik Ha Filter: 20x30" -20C bin 1x1

Astronomik Ha Filter: 25x5" -20C bin 1x1

Astronomik OIII Filter: 9x600" -20C bin 1x1

Astronomik OIII Filter: 20x300" -20C bin 1x1

Astronomik OIII Filter: 40x30" -20C bin 1x1

Astronomik SII Filter: 10x600" -20C bin 1x1

Astronomik SII Filter: 18x300" -20C bin 1x1

Astronomik SII Filter: 40x30" -20C bin 1x1