Uwe Glahn
December 30th, 2024, 10:43 AM
Sharpless 2-264 (Lambda Orionis Ring, "Angelfish Nebula")
Constellation: Orion
Type: HII region (molecular cloud)
RA: 05h 35m
Dec: +09° 56’
Diameter: ~ 6°
Deep Sky challenges don't need telescopes at all and it all begins with our naked eye and simple binoculars. Don't motivated to bring out the telescope in the winter cold - today's OOTW is the right solution for that.
The history begins with a question. Was it possible to see the nebula with the naked eye in times without any light pollution but a very accurate observation of the night sky? In this case the meaning of Orion's head became a new dimension.
Finally, Steward Sharpless includes the large nebula in his second and final vision in 1959 by scanning the Palomar Sky Surveys.
From the physically aspect, Sh 2-264 belongs to the Orion molecular cloud complex (OMCC). It is connected to the more famous Orion Nebula and the large arc of Barnard's Loop. Lambda Orionis and its eleven B-stars of the young cluster Collinder 69 (the head of Orion) are responsible for the ionization of the surrounding material. The cloud is around 1100 light-years away. The shock front of an early supernova, one million years ago, drift the nebula apart. The more prominent north-western edge is shaped by dark nebulae, particularly by Barnard 30. Simbad listed the object also as "lam Ori Molecular Ring". Looking to infrared images [WISE] (https://wise.ssl.berkeley.edu/sb/gallery_lambda_orionis.html), a ring structure is actually visible
But how about to see the often photographed angelfish visually?
Starting with the naked eye, under rural skies I could not spot it without filters. UHC brings out a faint but clearly visible glow around lam Ori. The glow seems smaller than expected. Barnard's Loop is easier to see. Switching to Hß filters, the glow around Col 69 is prominent and not much more difficult than Barnard's Loop. I would guess the size to around 4°-5° size. Smaller than the nebula is for real, perhaps because of the missing of the fainter eastern size?
Best instrument could be the new opera glasses, equipped with nebula filters in the front, but I have not experience with those instruments.
A normal binocular or small telescopes needs at least around 2° degrees field to sweep the brighter edges. To frame the whole nebula, the glasses needs around 8° field. My Nikon 8x30 with its 9° field was nearly perfect. Equipped with front filters (Hß), the whole nebular was visible in the field. An outstanding view.
But now it is your turn. What are your experiences, used telescopes and results?
image: Rainer Mannoff (200mm f/3.6; Canon 6Da, IDAS NB12) (https://www.astroecke.de/prettypictures/SH2-264_Angelfish_2023.htm)
5616
sketch: Uwe Glahn (8x30 binocular, Hß filters) (http://www.deepsky-visuell.de/Zeichnungen/Sh2-264.htm)
5617
As always - Give it a go and let us know! And may the New Year bring you lots of health and of course clear skies.
Constellation: Orion
Type: HII region (molecular cloud)
RA: 05h 35m
Dec: +09° 56’
Diameter: ~ 6°
Deep Sky challenges don't need telescopes at all and it all begins with our naked eye and simple binoculars. Don't motivated to bring out the telescope in the winter cold - today's OOTW is the right solution for that.
The history begins with a question. Was it possible to see the nebula with the naked eye in times without any light pollution but a very accurate observation of the night sky? In this case the meaning of Orion's head became a new dimension.
Finally, Steward Sharpless includes the large nebula in his second and final vision in 1959 by scanning the Palomar Sky Surveys.
From the physically aspect, Sh 2-264 belongs to the Orion molecular cloud complex (OMCC). It is connected to the more famous Orion Nebula and the large arc of Barnard's Loop. Lambda Orionis and its eleven B-stars of the young cluster Collinder 69 (the head of Orion) are responsible for the ionization of the surrounding material. The cloud is around 1100 light-years away. The shock front of an early supernova, one million years ago, drift the nebula apart. The more prominent north-western edge is shaped by dark nebulae, particularly by Barnard 30. Simbad listed the object also as "lam Ori Molecular Ring". Looking to infrared images [WISE] (https://wise.ssl.berkeley.edu/sb/gallery_lambda_orionis.html), a ring structure is actually visible
But how about to see the often photographed angelfish visually?
Starting with the naked eye, under rural skies I could not spot it without filters. UHC brings out a faint but clearly visible glow around lam Ori. The glow seems smaller than expected. Barnard's Loop is easier to see. Switching to Hß filters, the glow around Col 69 is prominent and not much more difficult than Barnard's Loop. I would guess the size to around 4°-5° size. Smaller than the nebula is for real, perhaps because of the missing of the fainter eastern size?
Best instrument could be the new opera glasses, equipped with nebula filters in the front, but I have not experience with those instruments.
A normal binocular or small telescopes needs at least around 2° degrees field to sweep the brighter edges. To frame the whole nebula, the glasses needs around 8° field. My Nikon 8x30 with its 9° field was nearly perfect. Equipped with front filters (Hß), the whole nebular was visible in the field. An outstanding view.
But now it is your turn. What are your experiences, used telescopes and results?
image: Rainer Mannoff (200mm f/3.6; Canon 6Da, IDAS NB12) (https://www.astroecke.de/prettypictures/SH2-264_Angelfish_2023.htm)
5616
sketch: Uwe Glahn (8x30 binocular, Hß filters) (http://www.deepsky-visuell.de/Zeichnungen/Sh2-264.htm)
5617
As always - Give it a go and let us know! And may the New Year bring you lots of health and of course clear skies.