Astrophotography /Orion /Dec 2025

M42

Orion & Running Man · Emission nebula + reflection · Broadband

~12h total
UV/IR cut
Columbus, OH · Bortle 5
M42, Orion & Running Man, a emission nebula + reflection in Orion

The target

First light on the printed OTA. Everything about this image is the story of a scope I didn't fully trust yet, taking a picture of a target that punishes any instrument that doesn't know what it's doing.

Processing

  1. Stacked in PixInsight (WBPP) with calibration frames
  2. HDR composite from multiple exposure lengths
  3. StarXTerminator star removal
  4. BlurXTerminator deconvolution
  5. NoiseXTerminator noise reduction

Acquisition

TypeEmission nebula + reflection
ConstellationOrion
Distance1,344 ly
Apparent magnitude+4.0
Apparent size85' × 60'
Integration~12h
PaletteBroadband
FiltersUV/IR cut
ShotDec 2025
FromColumbus, OH · Bortle 5

Equipment

Telescope3D-printed 150mm f/5 Newtonian astrograph
CameraASI533MC Pro
MountProxisky Umis20s
FiltersUV/IR cut
GuidingSVBony 60mm guide scope · 22mm mini guide cam · PHD2