Portrait of an Ape

[wimvb]

Ngc 2175 is a star cluster, associated with an emission nebula in the constellation Orion. The nebula goes by the popular name Monkey Head nebula. There is some debate whether the nebula has its own ngc number (ngc 2174) or whether this number is a double in the catalogue, so that the star cluster actually has two ngc numbers.

The nebula and cluster are about 6 400 lightyears distant. The nebula has an angular width of about 40 arc minutes. This means that it's a big monkey, with a skull that is about 75 light years across.

The data for this image was collected in February of this year. I could only spend a few hours each night on this target, as it was setting early in the night. This also affected the guiding.

Details:

• Ha 68 x 5 mins (Baader 7 nm, 31 mm filter)
• R 32 x 2.5 mins (Optolong 31 mm LRGB filter set)
• G 30 x 2.5 mins
• B 38 x 2.5 mins

Total integration time just over 10 hours

Gear: MN190 on a SW AZ-EQ6 mount with an ASI294MM camera

Software: Ekos/Kstars for capture and PixInsight for processing

[symmetal]

Great detail and star colours. You need to rotate it by 180 degrees though to see the monkey. 😀

Alan

[Stu]

4 hours ago, symmetal said:

Great detail and star colours. You need to rotate it by 180 degrees though to see the monkey. 😀

Alan

It is a great picture. I actually see a different monkey head this way up, more like a gorilla perhaps, and the other way up is more monkey like with crazy hair! 🤣

[Laurin Dave]

Very nice Wim..   definitely a great ape..  no tail ! 

[wimvb]

7 hours ago, symmetal said:

Great detail and star colours. You need to rotate it by 180 degrees though to see the monkey. 😀

Alan

 

2 hours ago, Stu said:

It is a great picture. I actually see a different monkey head this way up, more like a gorilla perhaps, and the other way up is more monkey like with crazy hair! 🤣

 

59 minutes ago, Laurin Dave said:

Very nice Wim..   definitely a great ape..  no tail ! 

Thanks, guys. This is the only orientation where I see a clear primate head, although at times, it looks like Chewbacca. I guess I should print the other orientation and hang it on a wall.

@Laurin Dave: I gather you visit that other forum as well. 

[teoria_del_big_bang]

7 hours ago, symmetal said:

Great detail and star colours. You need to rotate it by 180 degrees though to see the monkey. 😀

 

2 hours ago, Stu said:

I actually see a different monkey head this way up, more like a gorilla perhaps, and the other way up is more monkey like with crazy hair! 🤣

 

1 hour ago, Laurin Dave said:

definitely a great ape..  no tail ! 

 

16 minutes ago, wimvb said:

This is the only orientation where I see a clear primate head, although at times, it looks like Chewbacca. I guess I should print the other orientation and hang it on a wall.

Has the lock-down sent everyone mad ????

Ha Ha, I love the banter, absolutely meaningless but great all  the same.

Monkey, Ape or a Star Wars furry thing it is a great image 🙂 

Steve

[Laurin Dave]

38 minutes ago, wimvb said:

.......    at times, it looks like Chewbacca. I guess I should print the other orientation and hang it on a wall.

@Laurin Dave: I gather you visit that other forum as well. 

Indeed I did Wim...  it was a journey to the Dark Side...  maybe that's where you saw Chewbacca....  

[david_taurus83]

Wow! Great image and I think this is the first picture I've noticed was taken with a Mak-Newt! Why don't more of us use this scope? It's definitely piqued my interest!

[gorann]

Yes Wim, defenitively a great ape! And it is in the right direction in my mind. As David says it is odd that we do not see more making use of the MN190. It is as close as a mortal can get to a 7" apo refractor. Maybe we should now call it an ape reflector?

Edited April 7, 2021 by gorann

[wimvb]

5 hours ago, teoria_del_big_bang said:

Has the lock-down sent everyone mad ????

Lock-down? What lock-down? I live in Sweden; no lock-down.

[mackiedlm]

Thats the ONLY way I can see an ape also - great image too, - you don't often see real star colours in this image.

[wimvb]

6 hours ago, mackiedlm said:

you don't often see real star colours in this image.

Thanks. I can see a little distorted monkey face when uppside down.

Not only real star colours, also a reflection nebula behind the ape's neck. This is often missed in NB images.