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Orion's nebula - celestial cotton candy
Orion's nebula - celestial cotton candy
jlanoue


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Free Study 2008-02 (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT
Location: Bedford, NH
Date: Feb 28, 2008
Aperture: 10
ISO: 400
Shutter: b
Galleries: Astrophotography
Date Uploaded: Feb 29, 2008

 My daughters have always referred to this one as "the cotton candy nebula", for obvious reasons to them :-). I ordered this new telescope last summer, but just now getting around to getting all the electronics and adapters playing together. This photo was taken with a 10" newtonian telescope from anttler's optics and my canon 350xt DSLR. It is a composite of 5 3 minute exposures with shorter exposures of the "trapezium" area feathered in to compensate for blown out exposure due to brightness. This nebula, commonly known as the second star in Orion's sword, is easily naked eye visible and by all accounts, HUGE! It is about 4 times wider than a full moon and appears grey and ghostly viewed through binoculars or a low powered telescope. Only the wonder of long exposure photography brings out the amazing detail of this celestial wonder.

Statistics
Place: 173 out of 458
Avg (all users): 5.8563
Avg (commenters): 7.6000
Avg (participants): 5.8125
Avg (non-participants): 5.9583
Views since voting: 2465
Views during voting: 279
Votes: 160
Comments: 8
Favorites: 1 (view)

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AuthorThread
 03/08/2008 03:40:08 AM
Nice to read your notes. Came back to appreciate this view of the great outdoors.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/08/2008 02:25:33 AM
Thank you for continuing to share these. This has beautiful colors. Not sure on the frame, wonder about selecting one of the colors within, rather than the green you have chosen. I also wonder about a variation in composition to allow this nebula to dominate the frame more. I couldn't help but notice the 'shafts' of the star cropped out on the right - perhaps including that (if it wouldn't detract from the .. err, 'star' of the show), or else eliminating those blue elements, may have made this an even stronger image. Of course, I cannot comment on the 'astrotechnicals' - maybe 'one day'.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
03/07/2008 09:15:54 AM
Nice focus and detail, very nicely done!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/07/2008 07:07:41 AM
I do love these deep space images - awe inspiring :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/07/2008 06:43:22 AM
A little overexposed, you can't really make out the trapezium.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/05/2008 07:41:26 PM
No freaking way...... now that is just simply awesome. I hope this is legit, if it is I'm WAY jealous.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/02/2008 02:24:03 PM
Please keep these coming. always an 8 or higher from me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/01/2008 03:03:05 PM
Beautiful view. My daughter and I are planning to build an 8" Newtonian telescope this year so your photo acts as further inspiration... ;-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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