The Horsehead and Flame on Super Bowl Sunday from the BMO

 First clear night in months ...

It has been a long time (several months) since I was able to image. Hope you enjoy this image of the Horsehead and Flame nebulae.

The Horsehead (B33/IC434) and Fame Nebula (NGC 2024) captured on 2/8/2026 at our club's observatory.

What is it? (written with AI assistance)

Horsehead Nebula — a dark dust cloud silhouetted against a glowing emission background. The feature in your image is the Horsehead Nebula, also cataloged as Barnard 33 and IC 434, a cold, dense pocket of gas and dust that blocks starlight and takes on the familiar horsehead shape. This dark nebula sits within the Orion molecular cloud complex and is a nearby site of ongoing low‑mass star formation.

Flame Nebula — a bright emission region of ionized gas. The Flame Nebula, cataloged as NGC 2024, is an H II region where energetic young stars excite hydrogen and other gases so they glow, producing the reddish emission that frames the area around Alnitak. This is an active star‑forming region with complex filaments and dust lanes that give the nebula its textured appearance.

Alnitak — the illuminating blue supergiant in the foreground. Alnitak is the easternmost star of Orion’s Belt and appears very bright in your frame; it lies in the foreground relative to the nebulae and contributes to the illumination and contrast of nearby clouds.

Reflection Nebulae and Surroundings — faint blue glows and dusty knots. Several smaller reflection nebulae such as NGC 2023 and cataloged IC objects scatter starlight and add subtle blue tones and structure across the field. Together with the Horsehead and Flame Nebulae, these objects form a compact, richly textured slice of the Orion molecular cloud complex that is a favorite target for astrophotographers.

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Why it matters — this patch of Orion is a textbook example of how dust, gas, and young stars interact: dark silhouettes, glowing emission, and scattered reflection all appear in one frame, revealing different physical processes and stages of star formation.

An annotated version of the image.

How big is it?

The horsehead Nebula (B33) has an apparent size of 6 x 4 arcminutes on the sky with an actual diameter of 2.8 light-years (ly). For reference, the Moon has an apparent size of 31 arcminutes.

The Flame Nebula (NGC 2024) has an apparent size of 30 x 30 arcminutes on the sky with an actual diameter of 7.1 ly.

IC 434 has an apparent size of 60 x 10 arcminutes on the sky with an actual diameter of 14.2 ly.

How far is it?

Distance estimates for The Horsehead, Flame, and IC 434 Nebulae range from 1,260 to 1,600 ly.

How to find it?

The Horsehead is "easy" to find but very difficult to actually see (visually). Think of trying to see a black smudge on a black tablecloth. Although it is difficult to visually observe, it is relatively easy to image. To visually observe the Horsehead Nebula, a 10" or larger telescope, H-beta filter, and dark skies are required. 

The Horsehead is located about 1 degree south of the bright star Alnitak (the leftmost star in Orion's belt. Refer to the red rectangle in the finder chart below. 

Finder Chart for The Horsehead and Flame Nebula.

Imaging Notes:

Sunday February 8, 2026, was forecast to be clear, very cold, but clear. The first clear night in months. There was also this little event going called the Super Bowl. I could not stomach watching the Patriots, so I opted to brave the cold and head out to our club's observatory. I was joined by two other members. 

One member ran the club's Celestron 14" Edge HD. He initially pointed the scope at Jupiter. After grabbing some data on Jupiter, he captured data on M1 (The Crab Nebula). The other member and I attempted to get the club's Tele Vue NP101is setup running. We ran into an issue focusing the telescope. The dangerously cold temperatures (well below zero Fahrenheit) made it too difficult for the electronic focuser to move the telescope's focuser. We were able to manually focus with a Bahtinov mask but lost valuable imaging time due to the issue. We need to see what we can do to mitigate this from happening in the future, a good task for a cloudy night.

The skies were really good. Guiding was fantastic and the stars held steady with an HFR of 2.7. I had to leave at 9 pm (work night) but the other members imaged for about another hour before closing up shop. I went out Sunday February 15, 2026, with another member to collect matching darks and flats so we could process the image.

Processing:

All pre and post processing was performed in PixInsight. Pre-Processing: All subs were visually inspected with Blink. All light Frames, Flats, Darks and Dark flats were loaded into WBPP and pre-processed. Linear Post Processing: Background extraction was performed with GraXpert followed by BXT (correct only). SPCC was used for Color Calibration followed by a full application of BXT. The image was made non-linear with MultiscaleAdaptiveStretch (MAS) process. The Stars were then removed using StarXT. 

Non-linear Post Processing: Starless: Noise was reduced with NXT. The Image blend Script was used to sharpen the image with a High Pass Filter. DarkStructureEnhance script was used with a low setting to help make any dark structures pop a little more. A final Curves adjustment was made with CT to enhance contrast. Stars: No additional processing was performed on the stars. Final: The Stars and Starless images were combined with Pixel Math to produce the final image. 

Image Details:

Capture Date: 02/08/2026

Location: North Java, NY (Beaver Meadow Observatory)

Telescope: Tele Vue NP101is (no reducer)

Camera: ZWO ASI2600MC Pro 

Filter: N/A

Mount: ZWO AM5n

Exposure: 36 exposures @ 180 sec each for a total exposure of 1 hours and 48 minutes. All exposures were captured at Gain 100 / Offset 50 / -25°C each. 

Other: ZWO EAF, ZWO ASIair plus

Software: ASIair & PixInsight

Clear Skies!

Ernie

October 2024: An Amazing Month for Astronomy - Part 2

Chasing Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)

Saturday 10/12/2024 - Lakeview, NY

Chasing comets is so much fun. My first experience trying to capture one photographically was Comet Neowise in July of 2020. I was pretty new to astrophotography, so my results were ok, but it was so much fun. Was waiting for a chance for a bright comet now that my skills have improved. The Astronomy community has been excited for Comet C/2023 A (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) almost as soon as it was discovered. Even though predictions for this comet indicated it could be a good one, we all take them with a grain of salt. Comets are like cats; they both have tails and they do what they want. 

Saturday 10/12 would be the first chance for me to catch the comet in the evening sky, as the comet had traveled around the Sun and became an evening object on Friday 10/11. The weather was poor on Friday, but Saturday was clear all day with clouds coming in at twilight. Would the clouds stay away long enough to get a peak at the comet? Next problem, where to observe? I have a fairly decent western horizon if I go to the farm across the street from my house. Looking at planetarium apps, it was close. My son-in-law's parents have a home on Lake Erie. In fact, their backyard is on a cliff above Lake Erie. They were gracious and allowed me to set up my DSLR and tripod in their yard. I also had my binoculars and my son-in-law's father also had a pair of binoculars. We were treated to a beautiful sunset, but there was a heavy bank of clouds on the horizon. I was afraid the comet would be behind the clouds. 

Spoiler alert, my expectation of where the comet would be, specifically how high above the horizon, was significantly off. My expectation of when the comet would be visible was off as well. Their neighbor came outside and asked if we could see anything. We told him we couldn't see anything, so he went back inside to attend to his parental duties. Just as was about to give up, we noticed Venus. It was much higher and further South than I expected. Arcturus became visible as well. The comet was roughly between Venus and Arcturus in azimuth, and it was close to Venus' altitude. We renewed the search, and their neighbor returned. We took turns looking through the binoculars. I kept snapping photos with my camera in hopes the comet would appear to the camera sensor before our eyes could detect it. Lots of false alarms, wispy clouds, jet contrails, but no comet. My son-in-law's mother told us she was seeing something and to her it felt like the comet. We thought it was another airplane contrail. She was pretty adamant; I pointed the camera based on her description relative to the clouds near the horizon. Took a photo at 7:33 pm, there it was!!!

We took turns looking through the binoculars and I kept taking pictures. The comet got brighter, and you could make it out naked eye. We watched it go behind clouds, then reemerge. We lost it to the dense cloud bank on the horizon around 8:07 PM. I was shooting with my Ha modified Canon T6i, fixed tripod, Canon 50 mm lens (The Nifty Fifty), and an intervalometer (used as a shutter release). I was taking pictures at different settings, bracketing exposures, to ensure I captured the comet. 

Here's my best shot of the evening:

Saturday 10/12/204 from Lake View, NY at 7:53 PM. 2.5 sec exposure at f/2.8 and ISO 1600. Processed in Adobe Lightroom Classic and NoiseXTerminator in PixInsight.

Monday 10/14/2024 - Eden, NY

It was very cloudy on Monday 10/14 so there was no expectation of seeing the comet. I had to pick up something from the grocery store and noticed significant breaks in the clouds, especially to the west. After returning home, I ran across the street and snapped a photo with my iPhone. Could definitely make out the comet. Went back home and grabbed the tripod with the iPhone adapter and set up to see if i capture the comet despite the clouds. The comet was visible to the naked eye, and I moved around to try and capture a pleasing composition. Here's my favorite shot from that evening. Cool note: The Planetary Society reposted my photo on their Instagram!

Monday 10/14/2024 from Eden, NY at 7:57 PM. iPhone on a tripod. 

Wednesday 10/16/2024 - Eden, NY

Similar to Monday, patchy clouds and a bright Moon impacting the images and the visual observation. Set up across the street but in a slightly different location. Here are a couple of iPhone shots. 

Wednesday 10/16/2024 from Eden, NY at 7:46 PM. iPhone on a tripod.

Wednesday 10/16/2024 from Eden, NY at 7:46 PM. iPhone on a tripod at 3X Zoom.

Thursday 10/17/2024 - Eden, NY

The skies were clear on Thursday night, but the transparency was not good. The Moon was full and definitely had an impact once it rose above the trees. I had difficulty seeing the comet naked eye, no trouble with binoculars (10x50). I had two imaging set ups going. The first set up was my Ha Modified Canon T6i with Canon 50 mm lens on the iOptron Sky Guider Pro. The other setup was an iPhone on a tripod.

Thursday 10/17/2024 from Eden, NY at 8:35 pm. Ha modified Canon T6i, iOptron Sky Guider Pro, Canon 50 mm lens (Nifty Fifty), and an intervalometer. 5 sec exposure, f/2.8 at ISO 800. Edited in adobe Lightroom classic, Photoshop, and PixInsight.

Thursday 10/17/2024 from Eden, NY at 8:23 pm. iPhone on a Tripod. Edited in Photoshop.

Friday 10/18/2024 - Eden, NY 

No photos (yet) from Friday night. 
Our observatory director came over to my house to observe/image the comet. I had the same set up as Thursday night. Conditions were better. Comet was more visible with the naked eye. The nearly Full Moon definitely impacted views and imaging.  

Saturday 10/19/2024 - North Java, NY

Our local astronomy club, the Buffalo Astronomical Association (BAA), has our dark sky observatory on the grounds of the Buffalo Audubon Society's (BAS) Beaver Meadow Nature Center. We call our observatory the Beaver Meadow Observatory (BMO). The BAS asked us to open the observatory on 10/19 to support their Trick-or-Treat Hike event. We had several members show up with their scopes and we had the Celestron 14" Edge HD with the club's camera. We put my ZWO ASI2600MC pro on the club's Tele Vue NP101is (w/0.8 reducer). Both scopes ride on the Astro Physics AP1200 mount. Another member of our club's imaging subgroup put his dedicated astronomy camera on his 85 mm lens. We mounted this onto the NP101/14" Edge setup. 

The event was from 4 pm to 9 pm so we shared views of the Sun early in the event and then switched to Comet, Saturn, and other Deep Sky Objects. We also have a member (he's one of the hosts of the 7th Magnitude podcast) that gives star/constellation tours with a laser pointer. This was a family-oriented event. Lots of families, with kids (and adults) dressed up in great Halloween costumes. The Comet was the ... STAR ... of the evening. We helped visitors find the comet and helped a few that brought their own camera set ups. People were able to find the comet using their phones, but some were able to see it naked eye (just barely). We had computer monitors and TV screens in the observatory control room displaying the images we were capturing of the comet. This worked out great, as large groups were able to cycle into the control to get a view and ask questions. One of our members did not bring her scope with her so she used my 8' Dob to share views of Saturn. Saturn's rings are almost edge on. It was a great night and the weather was perfect!

I was able to process the data from the NP101 with my camera (see image below). Still working on the data from the 14" Edge HD. I tagged Tele Vue when posting the image of the comet with the NP101 and my camera on social media. They reposted my post on X (formerly Twitter). That really made my day!!

Saturday 10/19 from the BMO. This is a picture of the monitor connected to the NP101is with my camera. This is a single exposure with NINA's unlinked screen stretch applied.

Saturday 10/19/2024 from the BMO at 7:41 PM. Handheld iPhone shot from outside the observatory. 

Saturday 10/19/2024 from the BMO at 8:02 PM. Handheld iPhone shot from inside the observatory (from behind the telescopes). The NP101is is the smaller telescope mounted on top of the 14" EdgeHD.

Saturday 10/19/2024 from the BMO at 9;04 PM. Handheld iPhone shot from outside the observatory. look carefully at the sky, note the Big Dipper skimming the trees.

Saturday 10/19/2024 from the BMO. Tele Vue NP101is telescope w/0.8x Reducer, my ZWO ASI2600MC Pro, and Astro Physics AP1200 mount. 112 exposures at 15 sec each, -10 degrees C, gain 100, & Offset 50. Processed in PixInsight.

I tagged Tele Vue when sharing the image of the Comet on social media. They reposted my post to X (formerly Twitter). How cool is that!!!!

Saturday 10/26/2024 - Eden, NY

The forecast called for skies to clear around 8pm on Saturday 10/26. We had family over for dinner. I snuck out around 7 pm and set up my Ha Modified Canon T6i on the iOptron Sky guider pro. I also had the tripod with iPhone adapter. I captured images with DSLR using both the Canon 50 mm lens (Nifty Fifty) and the Rokinon 14" mm Lens. The comet was near the Milky Way core. I'm not really pleased with how the DSLR shots turned out. Here's an iPhone shot processed in Snapseed.

Saturday 10/26/2024 from Eden, NY 8:14 PM. iPhone on a tripod. Processed in Snapseed on my iPhone.

So that's probably it for now ...

The comet is getting dimmer and there are other targets I'll want to capture with the limited clear skies we get. Now that it gets darker earlier, we might go after the comet at the observatory at the beginning of an imaging session. We'll see. Chasing this comet was so much fun!! So many great experiences! Can't wat for the next one. 

Clear Skies!

Ernie