Horse Head Nebula

[rawhead]

Looking through my copy of ‘Illustrated guide to astronomical wonders’ last night (like you do) I was surprised to read that very few amateur astronomers have actually seen the horses head in the horse head nebula!

Has anyone here actually seen it through a scope?

Cheers

Jon

[saturn5]

Unless you have something like a 20" scope,a UHC or H-Beta filter and skies that are darker than the darkest thing from darksville you've got no chance of seeing it visually.

[Stephen Green]

When we lived in Southhampton the local society had a 26" reflector which we did see the Horsees Head I have not seen it since

Stephen

[EA2007]

You need to image this DSO using a long exposure in very dark skies.

The 'horsehead' in the nebula is dark so viewing with a scope isn't going to work as you can't see it

[saturn5]

It can be seen visually EA.

[acey]

I've tried on a number of occasions using an 8-inch scope from a dark site, but never succeeded. With a UHC filter I could barely see the surrounding nebulosity, but the Horsehead is a very small dark notch in that nebulous region - you're trying to see something black against something very faint, and that ain't easy. An H-beta filter is said to be the way to do it.

Andrew

[algol]

i think what EA might have meant is because it is a dark nebula (i hope ) it can't be "actually Seen" you can only see where it obstucts the nebula behind it.

at least i think that is what he meant? :insects1:

[Talitha]

Here are some interesting Horsehead discussions from other sites:

Ice In Space

Our Dark Skies

Astronomy

Cloudy Nights

[Astroman]

I've tried to see the Horsey in the following scopes: C8, 10" F/6 Newt, 16" LX200, 17" Newt, 18" Newt, 20" Newt, 20" Ritchey/Cretien, 22" Newt, 28" Newt. I have failed each and every time! I've tried it from the desert floor and from Kitt Peak, Mount Lemon, and Mount Graham. I have used every manner of filter you can name, from wratten to research grade Johnson of most colors.

As mentioned, the nebulosity is possible, but the Horsey is so small and difficult next to the glare of Alnitak, it takes quite a bit of doing to see it. More than I have, so far.

Theoretically, it's visible. Realistically, it's extremely difficult at best. I can't tell you how many have told me they've seen it, but upon further investigation it turns out to be Ngc 2024-the Flame or Tank Tracks neby to the east of Alnitak. (Horsey is to the south.)

[Sam]

Well if you haven't seen it with all of that stuff Astroman then it must be an extremely tricky object. It makes me wonder how it was found it in the first place - anybody know?

[Astroman]

Well if you haven't seen it with all of that stuff Astroman then it must be an extremely tricky object. It makes me wonder how it was found it in the first place - anybody know?

Photographically.

And I'm not saying it's impossible. It's just very very tough. I'll be trying it with the 20" and as many filters as I can name soon.

[Sam]

According to that great encyclopedia of everything, Wikipedia, it was discovered on photographic plates by Williamina Fleming, who was an assistant to William Pickering (who actually took the plates), in 1888. Must have been quite a surprise seeing something so distinctive appear. The hubble image of the HH looks amazing as well.

Sam