Orion Nebula Complex

The entire constellation of Orion is a star making factory, and the heart of the activity is centered around the Sword - the three "stars" below the hunter's famous belt. In fact, only one of the stars in the Sword is just a star (Nar Al Saiph, top left), while the others consist of the Great Orion Nebula (M42) and the stars of the Running Man Nebula (NGC 1977). All three are enmeshed a deep crimson sheet of ionized Hydrogen, with sprinklings of greenish oxygen and bluish reflection nebula around the main components.

243 minutes total exposure time. Equipment: Losmandy G11-G, Takahashi Epsilon 130 (430mm f/3.3), SBIG ST-4000 XCM.