Canon 350D Hap Griffin Baader Mod
Canon 70-200L f/2.8 at 70mm f/3.2
30 Darks/Flats/Bias

Color Data:
46x120sec at iso 1600
Astronomik CLS Clip Filter

Hydrogen Alpha:
15x600sec at iso 1600
Baader 2 inch 7nm H alpha filter
Step Down Rings

Sky and Telescope Editor's Choice December 30, 2008

Ha data used as luminance layer, with color data used as color layer. Second set of colorized Ha data (red) added as a lighten layer to first image to enhance the Ha color in the faint nebulosity - resulting in this image.

Links above lead to the separate RGB and Ha images.

Barnard's Loop (Sharpless 2-276) is an emission nebula in the constellation of Orion. It is part of a giant molecular cloud which also contains the bright Horsehead and Orion nebulae. The stars within the Orion Nebula are believed to be responsible for ionizing the loop.

It is estimated to lie at a distance of approximately 1600 light years, giving it actual dimensions of about 300 light years across. It is thought to have originated in a supernova explosion about 2 million years ago. Several known runaway stars may have resulted from the same explosion - AE Aurigae, Mu Columbae and 53 Arietis are thought to have been part of a multiple star system in which one component exploded as a supernova about 2 million years ago.

Obvious components of this image also are M42/M43 and Running Man, the Horsehead, and Flame nebulae.

December 28, 2008