More than astrophotography, an astronomical exploration.
The Boogeyman in Orion
David Cruz · Astromidnight
In Orion, the dark dust of LDN 1622 traces the silhouette of the Boogeyman against a faint background of red hydrogen. In the cloud's head, the small nebula vdB 62 reflects the light of a star.
| Catalogue | Lynds Dark Nebulae, 1962 |
| Type | Dark and reflection nebula |
| Distance | ≈ 1,300 light-years |
| Field | 82.6′ × 53.4′ |
| Real width | ≈ 31 × 20 light-years |
| Scale | 0.81″ / pixel |
| Orientation | 172° · south up |
| RA (centre) | 05h 54m 17s |
| DEC (centre) | +01° 46′ 57″ |
| Constellation | Orion |
| Objects in field | LDN 1622 · 2 vdB · LkHα 336 · HH 122 · 56 Ori |
The distance of LDN 1622 is uncertain. Kun et al. (2008) conclude that the cloud lies at the distance of Orion B and adopt 400 parsecs (≈ 1,300 light-years); APOD gives ≈ 1,500 light-years and older studies went as far as proposing 400 to 650 light-years. The Gaia parallaxes of the cloud's young stars (SIMBAD) point to ≈ 1,100 light-years. The real width assumes 400 parsecs. Positions of all objects taken from SIMBAD.
15 h 20 min of light
Each tick is one exposure. 210 in total, with the camera at −10 °C and gain 100. Calibrated with 50 darks, 50 flats and 50 bias. The Moon stayed below 65 % illumination throughout.
Carbon Newton 10' f/4
ZWO ASI2600MC Pro
Sky-Watcher CQ350 Pro
ZWO ASI120MM Mini
TS-Optics Maxfield .95X Coma Corrector · ZWO EAF
Player One Anti-Halo Pro Dual-Band Ha+OIII Filter 2"
Adobe Photoshop · Pleiades Astrophoto PixInsight · ZWO ASIAIR
São Pedro da Gafanhoeira, Évora · 358 m
Bortle 3