INFO FROM SIDC – RWC BELGIUM 2014 Dec 10 12:23:27 Solar activity was low with several C-class flares originating from NOAA active region 2230, which currently has developed to a beta-gamma region. The strongest flare was a C6.2 flare, peaking at 15:28 UT on December 9. No Earth directed CMEs were observed. Flaring activity at the C-level is expected. The solar wind speed varied between 450 and 550 km/s, but is gradually declining, as observed by ACE and SOHO/Celias. The magnitude of the interplanetary magnetic field reached a maximum of 8 nT. Geomagnetic conditions were quiet to active, related to effects of the CH high speed stream. Quiet to unsettled conditions are expected, with some chance for a few time slots of active to minor storm conditions.

The Orion Nebula (also known as Messier 42, M42, or NGC 1976) is a diffuse nebula situated in the Milky Way south of Orion’s Belt in the constellation of Orion. It is one of the brightest nebulae, and is visible to the naked eye in the night sky. M42 is located at a distance of 1,344 ± 20 light years and is the closest region of massive star formation to Earth. The M42 nebula is estimated to be 24 light years across. It has a mass of about 2000 times the mass of the Sun. Older texts frequently refer to the Orion Nebula as the Great Nebula in Orion or the Great Orion Nebula.

Telescope / lens shooting: Celestron Edge HD 1100
Camera to capture: Atik 11000
Mount: Celestron CGE-Pro
Guides telescope / lens: William Optics Finder 50mm
Camera guide: Astrolumina ALccd 5.2
Focal reducers: Starizona HyperStar for Celestron EdgeHD 1100
Programs: PixInsight, Straton, Fitswork, ProDigital Software StarSpikes Pro 2.0, Maxim DL
Filters: Ha 7nm, Baader LRGB 2 “unmounted
Resolution: 3799×2354
Dates: February 24, 2014
Frames: 1434×10 ”
Accumulation: 4.0 hours
Avg. Moon age: 23.51 days
Avg. Phase of the Moon: 35.69%
RA Centre: 83.844 degrees
DEC Center: -5.400 degrees
Pixel scale: 3,330 coal. sec / pixel
Direction: 90.657 degrees
The radius of the field: 2,067 degrees
Location: Ingolstadt, Ingolstadt, Bayern, Germany

Author: equinoxx

Astrofoto of the day from SPONLI, 11.12.2014