Hello!

I'd like to introduce you to one of my favorite constellations of the nightsky - Orion.

After the Big Dipper, Orion is the next most commonly recognizable constellation and is visible from every part of the globe.
In addition to Orion’s brilliant first magnitude stars of Betelgeuse and Rigel, it holds the three equality-bright asterism of the hunter’s belt stars, underneath which hangs the glowing jewel on orion's sword hilt, the Great Orion Nebula.

Almost every ancient culture associated this area of the night sky with a ‘star-god’ or ‘great warrior’. From the ancient Sumerians, who saw in it their great hero Gilgamesh, to the Greeks who named this grouping of stars after their hero Orion, where we get our classical representation of the great hunter kneeling with his raised right arm holding a club, and a shield made from lion skin in his left hand.

I've listed a number of interesting stories of Orion from around the world on my 'Star Myths' page.

12/30/1983 - 15 seconds, Minolta XG-1 50mm, B&W	02/22/1984 - 2 minutes, Minolta XG-1 50mm, B&W

Orion is home to a number of large stellar 'OB' Associations. An O-B Association is a large, very loose form of an open star cluster consisting of young spectral type "O" and "B" stars. They cover large volumes of space, are loosely held together by gravity and have short lifetimes of a few million years.

To view a sketch of a specific OB Association:
Click on the location of the object on the imagemap or select from the list below.



All sketches were made with an 80mm refractor spotting scope using low-power eyepieces, with an amici prism giving a corrected field of view. To view the sketches of these OB Associations, select from the list below:

• "ORION" OB-1A Sketch:
  
  
• "ORION" OB-1B Sketch:
  
  
• "ORION" OB-1C Sketch:
  
  
• "ORION" OB-1D Sketch:
  
  

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Orion contains one of the best Diffuse Nebula of the nightsky - M42, the Great Orion Nebula.
M42 is a giant star factory that contains a young starcluster at it's core, named the Trapezium'. The Trapezium is only about a million years old, and contains about 1000 stars, most of which are hidden by the gas and dust of the parent nebulae cloud.

Sketch - 10" Reflector, 18mm (79x) 11/25/1984	Sketch - 13" Reflector, 8mm (114x) 03/21/1988

03/08/2013 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 and Orion LRGB imaging set with Lumicon filter slider.
(Red=25 seconds, Green=19 seconds, Blue=21 seconds. 5 images each, using AstroStack & Photoshop CS2)




01/18/2013 - 8" SCT f10, StellaCam-II 8 second of Orion's core (1st attempt at RGB using IR imaging filters)




02/20/2003 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-EX 1 second (using non-imaging RGB filters, heavy toward the green)




12/07/2002 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-EX 2 seconds (negative image)



8" SCT (f6.3) - mosaic of images from 0 to 2 seconds integration - 02/20/2003


animation



M42 (nebula) - 09/10/2010 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 30 seconds




M42 (low & high res) - 02/26/2012




M42 (nebula) - 11/10/2012 - 50mm Orion Refractor f3.2, StellaCam-II, 8 seconds




M42 & M43 (nebula) - 09/15/2012 - 6" RC f5, StellaCam-3 35 seconds




M42 & M43 (nebula) - 02/03/2016 - 80mm Kson Refractor f6.3 @ 10 seconds




M43 (nebula) - 02/05/2016 - 8" SCT f5, StellaCam-3 @ 60 seconds

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Additional Deep-Sky objects located in this Constellation:



M43 (nebula) - 12/27/2008 - 8" SCT f10, StellaCam-EX 2 seconds




M43 (nebula) - 01/18/2012 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 30 seconds




M78 (reflection nebula) - 01/31/1990 - 8" Dob f4.5, 16mm 57x




M78 (reflection nebula) - 01/18/2012 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 20 seconds




NGC1662 (open cluster) - 01/18/2012 - 80mm Bosma Refractor f6.3, StellaCam-II, 8 seconds




NGC1663 (open cluster) - 01/18/2012 - 80mm Bosma Refractor f6.3, StellaCam-II, 8 seconds





NGC1670 (galaxy) - 02/17/2017 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 60 seconds





NGC1678, PGC16180 & PGC1087632 (galaxy) - 02/17/2017 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 60 seconds





NGC1682, 1683, 1684, & 1685 (galaxy) - 02/17/2017 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 60 seconds





NGC1707 (open cluster) - 02/03/2019 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 30 seconds





NGC1709 & 1713 (galaxy) - 02/17/2017 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 60 seconds





NGC1729 (galaxy) - 02/17/2017 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 60 seconds





NGC1762 (galaxy) - 09/08/2015 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 35 seconds




NGC1788 (reflection nebula) - 01/18/2012 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 30 seconds





NGC1908 (non-existent) - 02/17/2017 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 60 seconds





NGC1909 (non-existent) - 02/17/2017 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 60 seconds





NGC1924 (galaxy) - 02/17/2017 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 60 seconds




NGC1973 & 1977 (nebula) - 01/18/2012 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 30 seconds




NGC1977 (the Running Man Nebula) - 09/15/2012 - 6" RC f5, StellaCam-3 35 seconds




NGC1980 (open cluster) - 01/18/2012 - 80mm Bosma Refractor f6.3, StellaCam-II, 8 seconds




NGC1980 (nebula) - 01/18/2012 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 20 seconds




NGC1981 (open cluster) - 01/18/2012 - 80mm Bosma Refractor f6.3, StellaCam-II, 8 seconds




NGC1990 (nebula) - 02/21/2014 - 8" SCT f5, StellaCam-3 @ 25 seconds




NGC1999 (nebula) - 02/21/2014 - 8" SCT f5, StellaCam-3 @ 20 seconds




NGC2022 (planetary nebula) - 01/18/2012 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 30 seconds




NGC2023 (nebula) - 12/27/2013 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 40 seconds




NGC2024 (nebula) "the Flame Nebula" - 09/15/2012 - 6" RC f5 StellaCam-3, 35 seconds




"the Flame & HorseHead Nebula" - 09/15/2012 - 50mm Refractor f3.2 & H-beta filter, StellaCam-II @ 8 seconds




B33 & IC434 (the HorseHead Nebula)
09/15/2012 - 6" RC f5, StellaCam-3 @ 35 seconds                             09/10/2015 - 80mm f5.5 Refractor, StellaCam-3 @ 60 seconds
    




B33 (Horsehead) - 09/03/2016 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 300 seconds





B33 (dark nebula) - 09/23/2017 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 180 seconds (stack of 10)




NGC2039 (open cluster) - 01/18/2012 - 80mm Bosma Refractor f6.3, StellaCam-II, 8 seconds




NGC2063 (open cluster) - 11/13/2015 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 15 seconds




NGC2064 (nebula) - 02/21/2014 - 8" SCT f5, StellaCam-3 @ 30 seconds




NGC2067 (reflection nebula) - 11/14/2015 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 35 seconds




NGC2071 (nebula) - 12/27/2013 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 35 seconds





NGC2110 (galaxy) - 02/17/2017 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 60 seconds




NGC2112 (open cluster) - 01/18/2012 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 15 seconds




NGC2141 (open cluster) - 01/18/2012 - 80mm Bosma Refractor f6.3, StellaCam-II, 8 seconds




NGC2143 (open cluster) - 01/18/2012 - 80mm Bosma Refractor f6.3, StellaCam-II, 8 seconds




NGC2169 (open cluster) - 02/21/1992 - 8" Dob f4.5, 16mm 57x


NGC2169 (open cluster) - 01/18/2012 - 80mm Bosma Refractor f6.3, StellaCam-II, 8 seconds




NGC2174 (nebula) - 01/18/2012 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 30 seconds




NGC2175 (open cluster) - 01/18/2012 - 80mm Bosma Refractor f6.3, StellaCam-II, 8 seconds




NGC2175S (open cluster) - 01/18/2012 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 15 seconds




NGC2180 (open cluster) - 01/18/2012 - 80mm Bosma Refractor f6.3, StellaCam-II, 8 seconds





NGC2184 (open cluster) - 02/03/2019 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 30 seconds




NGC2186 (open cluster) - 01/18/2012 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 15 seconds




NGC2194 (open cluster) - 01/18/2012 - 80mm Bosma Refractor f6.3, StellaCam-II, 8 seconds




NGC2202 (open cluster) - 01/17/2015 - 8" SCT f5, StellaCam-3 @ 8 seconds




IC423 (reflection nebula) - 11/14/2015 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 35 seconds




IC426 (reflection nebula) - 11/14/2015 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 35 seconds




IC430 (reflection nebula) - 11/14/2015 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 35 seconds




IC431 (reflection nebula) - 12/27/2013 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 40 seconds




IC432 (reflection nebula) - 12/27/2013 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 40 seconds




IC435 (planetary nebula) - 02/21/2014 - 8" SCT f5, StellaCam-3 @ 30 seconds





Abell-10 (planetary nebula) - 10/05/2018 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 3 minutes (no filter)
Orion    Type-3    Mag+15.2    Size 35x32
      




Abell-12 (planetary nebula) - 10/05/2018 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 3 minutes (no filter)
Orion    Type-2b    Mag+13.9    Size 37x37
      




Abell-13 (planetary nebula) - 10/05/2018 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 3 minutes (no filter)
Orion    Type-4    Mag+16    Size 174x134
      




Alessi 29 (open cluster) - 02/03/2019 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 30 seconds




Basel-11B (open cluster) - 01/18/2012 - 80mm Bosma Refractor f6.3, StellaCam-II, 8 seconds




Berkeley-20 (open cluster) - 01/17/2015 - 8" SCT f5, StellaCam-3 @ 15 seconds




Berkeley-21 (open cluster) - 02/21/2014 - 8" SCT f5, StellaCam-3 @ 20 seconds




Berkeley-22 (open cluster) - 01/17/2015 - 8" SCT f5, StellaCam-3 @ 15 seconds





Berkeley-72 (open cluster) - 02/10/2015 - 8" SCT f5, StellaCam-3 @ 25 seconds



Ced-59 (reflection nebula) - 02/21/2014 - 8" SCT f5, StellaCam-3 @ 30 seconds





Ced-62 (reflection nebula) - 08/29/2016 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 60 seconds




Collinder-69 (open cluster) - 01/18/2012 - 80mm Bosma Refractor f6.3, StellaCam-II, 8 seconds




Collinder-74 (open cluster) - 12/27/2013 - 80mm Bosma Refractor f6.3, StellaCam-II, 8 seconds




Czernik-24 (open cluster) - 01/17/2015 - 8" SCT f5, StellaCam-3 @ 15 seconds




Czernik-25 (open cluster) - 01/17/2015 - 8" SCT f5, StellaCam-3 @ 15 seconds




Dolidze-Dzimselejsvili-2 (open cluster) - 03/30/2014 - 8" SCT f5, StellaCam-3 @ 25 seconds




Dolidze-17 (open cluster) - 01/18/2012 - 80mm Bosma Refractor f6.3, StellaCam-II, 8 seconds




Dolidze-19 (open cluster) - 02/21/2014 - 80mm Bosma Refractor f6.3, StellaCam-II @ 8 seconds




Dolidze-21 (open cluster) - 02/21/2014 - 80mm Bosma Refractor f6.3, StellaCam-II @ 8 seconds





Elosser 1 (asterism) - 02/03/2019 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 30 seconds





FSR 983 (asterism) - 02/03/2019 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 30 seconds




J-320 (planetary nebula) - 02/21/2014 - 8" SCT f5, StellaCam-3 @ 15 seconds





PKL 98 (open cluster) - 02/03/2019 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 30 seconds




'S' Orionis ('Sigma Cluster' - multiple star) - 02/21/2014 - 8" SCT f5, StellaCam-3 @ .5 second





Skiff J614+1252 (open cluster) - 02/03/2019 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 30 seconds





Skiff J619+1832 (open cluster) - 02/03/2019 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 30 seconds





Teutsch J548+930 (open cluster) - 02/03/2019 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 30 seconds





Teutsch J625+1351 (open cluster) - 02/03/2019 - 8" SCT f6.3, StellaCam-3 @ 60 seconds

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Hope you enjoyed the visit. Come again soon!
Larry McHenry,   Pittsburgh, PA. USA

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