Challenge Deep Sky Targets SET II for Long Winter Nights: Jan 22 β Feb 21. My field and process notes on this splendid and challenging Set of DSOs.
T17 - M42, 43 NGC 1980, 1999 (Mosaic)
OrionΒ
SHOWPIECE: A massive vertical mosaic spanning from the shimmering blue cluster of NGC 1981, through the icy blue Running Man and the majestic heart of M42, down to the mysterious "Cosmic Keyhole" of NGC 1999.
T18 - NGC 1788
Orion
ECHO: A "Triple-Treat" landscape containing reflection, emission, and dark nebula types in one field, featuring the wispy edges of a "fox face" and subtle "bat wings."
T19 - IC 2177
Monoceros
SPECTRE: A massive star-forming complex featuring a "head" and sweeping "wings" that resemble a cosmic dragon or parrot, showcasing a superb mix of red emission and blue/green reflection elements.
T20 - SH 2-261Β
Search in Atlas for star "69 Orionis"
Orion
ECHO: Known as the βBig Brain Nebula,β this faint H-II region appears as a diffuse, neural-like "ghost" of Orion. It is a historical landmark for amateur discovery, showing a faint OIII signal in its core.
T21 - NGC 2174Β
Orion
SHOWPIECE: A simian-shaped wonder featuring intricate, brain-like folding of gas clouds and hidden "clumpy" nebulae that reveal a multi-layered masterpiece when the color balance is managed.
T22 - NGC 2409, SH 2-302Β
Search in Atlas for "NGC 2414" - just below that is the Snowman
Puppis
ECHO: A deeply red emission nebula that looks like a cosmic snowman, where radiation from young, massive stars is carving a bubble in the surrounding hydrogen gas.
T23 - NGC 2238
Monoceros
SHOWPIECE: A giant molecular cloud shaped like a rose, with a central cluster of young stars (NGC 2244) that have cleared a βholeβ in the center via stellar winds.
T24 - B33, IC 434, NGC 2024Β
Orion
SHOWPIECE: The iconic dark silhouette of the Horsehead against a glowing red hydrogen curtain, paired with the energized Flame Nebula and subtle, dusty blue reflection nebulosity.
T25 - IC 2118
Orion (near Rigel)
ECHO: A vast, eerie reflection nebula reflecting the brilliant light of the supergiant star Rigel. Its profile-like shape is exceptionally faint and difficult to capture, requiring perfect transparency and dark skies.
T26 - IC 443
Gemini
ASPECTRE: A supernova remnant nearly 30,000 years old featuring jellyfish-like "tentacles" interacting with a molecular cloud. It is a rare "hybrid" target with a mix of red emission filaments and reflected light from the nearby star Propus.
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