Interesting stuff on viewing the Horsehead Nebula

[John]

With the Horsehead Nebula viewing season nearly here (at least when Orion starts clearing the surrounding houses and trees a bit more for me) I've been doing some more research into how to give oneself the best chance of spotting this challenging and elusive target.

I came across this web page which I'd not seen before. Some of it is perhaps a little controversial but nevertheless I think makes interesting reading on a cloudy night while waiting for a clear one !:

http://freescruz.com/~4cygni/haggisizing/astro/HH-sense.htm

[YKSE]

That's really an interesting read, John, feels like C8 can have a shot on it too, and a focal reducer may have some use after all.

[Mike73]

It kinda confirms Jeremy Perez's sketches/observations you posted in the other HH thread John.

[Moonshane]

interesting John, thanks for posting. he goes on a bit doesn't he?   I think it broadly confirms what I thought - try things for yourself, go to darker sites than my garden, have options in terms of eyepieces. 

[Damo636]

Excellent link John, thanks for sharing. I've never been able to observe the HH & now I read that some dude has bagged it with a 42mm binocular!!! This gives me fresh hope, maybe this season!

[Mark at Beaufort]

Interesting information John. I know the observing area that he states which is about 50/60 miles from where my son lives. Perhaps I should take my 4" frac when I next visit?

I still think that Lucksall has a NELM of 6 mag so we should have a go next year. After all I did view the HH last year from Lucksall although I accept it was with a 16" Dob..

[Moonshane]

I'll be trying for it there with my 16" and Hbeta filter on the best night so anyone is welcome to join me.

[swamp thing]

Great link John. Reckon I'll have another bash soon.

I did have a look for it before from a great site in Wales with a 16". Could see some nebulosity but couldn't work out what bit was what (forgot my star atlas ) ended up confused Dob com.

[jetstream]

LOL!@ confused Dob.com -that was me the other night looking at some nebulosity arournd Alnitak....up,down East,North....& I had the map...Acey has helped me sort out the orientation on another thread...thankfully.That night was 21.3 mag/arc sec,with about 6 NELM,the difference being due to the transparency @ avg to below avg.However I did see NGC 2024 with no filter,so maybe there is a chance on the HH from here

[John]

LOL!@ confused Dob.com -that was me the other night looking at some nebulosity arournd Alnitak....up,down East,North....& I had the map...Acey has helped me sort out the orientation on another thread...thankfully.That night was 21.3 mag/arc sec,with about 6 NELM,the difference being due to the transparency @ avg to below avg.However I did see NGC 2024 with no filter,so maybe there is a chance on the HH from here

The Ultrablock filter would be worth a try. I've seen reports of the HH being spotted using one of those. As a UHC filter it admits the H-Beta line as well as one or two others.

I've just managed to find a nice used Lumicon H-Beta filter so I'll be giving that a try when it arrives, alongside the 1000 Oaks H-Beta that SGL member Mark at Beaufort has kindly loaned me 

[scarp15]

Whilst at Kielder recently, I spoke to someone who was set up not far from myself and was aware that (on the Friday evening) successfully observed the Horse Head nebula. He was using a 12" reflector, recommended 150x mag wide field eyepiece, H-beta filter and waited until the early hours of the morning for Orion to reach its meridian. Seeing condtions were very good. 

[mert]

I'm just waiting until Sunday or Monday to have a go, when my old friend the moon goes.

[John]

I'm just waiting until Sunday or Monday to have a go, when my old friend the moon goes.

Good plan - the dear old Moon was washing everything out last night - I could barely see traces of M42 let alone anything fainter !

[mert]

Good plan - the dear old Moon was washing everything out last night - I could barely see traces of M42 let alone anything fainter !

Indeed, I'll going to have a go from the 24th onwards, hope the skies are nice and clear, live in hope lol