Constellation of the Month: December
Orion (The Hunter)

by: John Mirtle.
Page last updated: May 3, 2004

Contents
Small Scope Objects    Big Scope Objects    Challenge Objects    Maps    Photos

Small Scope Objects:

Name R.A. Decl. Details
  M42!
(NGC 1976)		 05hr 35.4m -05° 27' The famous "Orion Nebula" - the brightest and easiest to find emission nebula in the winter sky. 85 x 60 arc minutes in size, this nebula will fill a low power eyepiece field of view. At magnitude 3.5, it is visible to the naked eye as a "fuzzy" star. Plenty of detail is visible at high magnifications.
  M43
(NGC 1982)		 05hr 35.6m -05° 16' A fainter, detached portion of the "Orion Nebula" (M42), resembling a bloated coma. 10 x 5 arc minutes in size, magnitude 9.0, illuminated by an 8th magnitude star.
  M78
(NGC 2068)		 05hr 46.7m +00° 03' One of the easiest reflection nebulas to observe. Use medium magnification, without filters. 8 x 6 arc minutes, magnitude 11.
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Big Scope Objects:

Name R.A. Decl. Details
  NGC 2022! 05hr 42.1m +09° 05' A magnitude 12.4 planetary nebula, 28 x 27 arc seconds in size with a 14th mag. central star. Bluish in colour, use high power to distinguish it from nearby stars. (110NGC)
  NGC 2024! 05hr 41.9m -01° 51' An emission nebula located just east of z Orionis, 30 x 30 arc minutes in size. Use medium power to remove z from the field of view. (110NGC)
  NGC 2023 05hr 42m -02° 14' Another reflection nebula, just south of NGC 2024. 10 arc minutes in size. Use medium power and no filters.
  NGC 1788! 05hr 06.9m -03° 21' A more challenging reflection nebula. 8 x 5 arc minutes in size. (110NGC)
  NGC 2194! 06hr 13.8m +12° 48' A faint but rich open cluster of 80 stars, packed into a diameter of 10 arc minutes. Magnitude 9.0. (110NGC)
  NGC 1973/5/7! 05hr 35.1m -04° 44' A patch of reflection and emission nebulosity just north of M42 covering 45 x 35 arc minutes. (110NGC)
  NGC 1981 06hr 14m +12° 48' A loose open cluster of 10 stars, magnitude 8 to 10. Located just north of the NGC 1973/5/7 group in Orion's sword.
  NGC 2174/5 06hr 14m +12° 48' An easy open cluster (75) surrounded by an emission nebula (74). 2175 is a loose open cluster at mag. 6.8 about 18 arc minutes in diameter. 2174 covers 30 x 40 arc minutes of sky and responds well to filters.
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Challenge Objects:

Name R.A. Decl. Details
  IC 434 (B 33) 05hr 41m -02° 31' The famous "Horsehead Nebula" - a dark nebula backlit by a faint strip of nebulosity. Located just south of z, B33 is small (5 arc min) and difficult, requiring excellent observing conditions.
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Constellation Maps:

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Photos:


 
Photo 1
South is at top to match the view in an inverting telescope.
Photo credit: John Mirtle.
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