NGC 2040

Any suggestions on how I could resolve a visual observation of the Horsehead Neb. To block out the light from Alnitak... and would a filter of some kind help? I was thinking this object could only be CCD imaged. thanks for any suggestions, JM

I have glimpsed the Horsehead through the 36" Yard Scope at WSP in the Florida Keys with Orion as high as possible. I believe an Ha filter was the filter used. Even with that much aperature under excellent skies, it was not well defined.

Good luck with your quest.
dan

I have seen the Horsehead in a C8 one time after many attempts. I did not use a filter but it was a rare night of superb transparency and Orion was optimally placed. I have tried subsequently with my C11 and have not seen it. We do not get that many truely transparent nights in NC, but I keep trying.

What was unusual about the one time observation was the distintive shape was clearly seen. A few hours later I could not find it. I find that any faint nebula seems to follow the same pattern - sometimes it is there and other times it is not.

Bryan

The smallest aperture with which I've successfully logged B33 (the Horsehead Nebula) has been my H-beta filtered 8" f/6 Starsplitter Tube Dob. It was a very difficult observation. I've also seen B33 through my 10" f/5 Sky-Watcher Collapsible Dob using a filter. From very dark sites on exceptional nights, I've observed the Horsehead Nebula without using a filter through scopes ranging from 14.5 to 20 inches in aperture. My all-time best view of B33 was through the 36" f/5 Yard Scope at the 1995 Winter Star Party.

However, the Horsehead has been detected with much smaller apertures, including 4" refractors (Sue French) and even H-beta filter equipped 70mm binoculars (Phil Harrington).

http://homepage.mac.com/joebergeron/horseheadobs.htm

http://www.philharrington.net/dsexpt.htm

Being familiar with the correct area is vital.

http://observing.skyhound.com/archives/jan/IC_434.html

http://www.perezmedia.net/beltofvenus/archives/000379

Despite some reports to the contrary, B33 is not particularly small. It is much larger than the majority of galaxies visible through typical amateur telescopes.

http://www.maa.clell.de/Messier/E/Xtra/NGC/b33.html

A narrowband filter such as a Lumicon UHC or Orion UltraBlock will help somewhat if an H-beta filter isn't available. Using an eyepiece that produces a 5mm or so exit pupil seems to work well.

http://home.ix.netcom.com/~bwilson2/barbarasweb/MEyepiece.htm

By the way, NGC 2040 is part of the Seagull Nebula in Dorado. Were you thinking of NGC 2024 (the Flame Nebula)?

http://www.astrocruise.com/milky_way/HH_0712.htm

Dave Mitsky