Canon 350D Hap Griffin Baader Mod
15x600sec at iso 1600
30 Darks/Flats/Bias
Canon 70-200 f/2.8 L at 70mm
Baader 2 inch 7nm H alpha filter
Step Down Rings

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.

Less obvious is the elusive LDN 1622 or Boogeyman Nebula just outside of the Loop at lower left.

December 28, 2008