Sunday, February 1, 2015

M42 Orion Nebula using iOptron SkyTracker in NYC

This is my first test of iOptron SkyTracker. Orion Nebula M42 is in the list of top 10 deep sky objects for amateur astronomers. So I choose it for first test. I tried exposer 15 seconds. For fixed tripod with Canon Telephoto Lens EF 200mm f2.8 L II USM it gives star trails. With iOptron SkyTracker even without precise alignment stars looks like points. Weather was good but NYC light pollution, plus it was 3 / 4 Moon near Orion nebula. So I use small ISO (Urban astrophotography). There are results:

Orion Nebula M42 single 15s exposure from NYC using Canon 60Da and EF 200mm f/2.8 lens on iOptron SkyTracker.

M42 Orion Nebula one single file from NY City

Canon 60Da, Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 L II USM Telephoto Lens, Exposure 15 sec; f/2.8; ISO 320, New York City

Using DeepSkyStacker stacked multiple images. Every Canon Row CR2 image first updated in Canon Row 7 saved as Tiff file and later stacked in DeepSkyStacker. Post processing after that was done in Photoshop.

Orion Nebula M42 stacked from 8 exposures using Canon 60Da and 200mm lens on iOptron SkyTracker, NYC backyard.

Orion Nebula M42 from New York City Backyard - 8 photos iOptron SkyTracker Canon 60Da

Canon 60Da, Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 L II USM Telephoto Lens; f/2.8; ISO 320; Exposure 15sec x 8 - Total time 2 min, New York City

Orion Nebula M42 stacked from 36 photos, Canon 60Da and 200mm f/2.8 lens, iOptron SkyTracker, NYC urban sky.

M42 Orion Nebula NYC 36 photos iOptron SkyTracker Canon 60da Canon 200mm

Canon 60Da, Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 L II USM Telephoto Lens; f/2.8; ISO 320; Exposure 15sec x 36 - Total time 9 min, New York City, Messier 42 or NGC 1976

Deep stack of Orion Nebula M42 from NYC using 204 exposures with Canon 60Da and EF 200mm lens on iOptron SkyTracker.

iOptron SkyTracker Canon 60Da Orion Nebula M42 Astrophotography 204 photos

Canon 60Da, Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 L II USM Telephoto Lens; f/2.8; ISO 320; Exposure 15sec x 204 - Total 51 min

Final Thoughts

Capturing deep-sky objects like the Orion Nebula (M42) from Brooklyn, New York City—a location with some of the worst light pollution in the world—is normally very challenging. In NYC, even bright stars are often barely visible to the naked eye.

Yet with a tracking mount and 204 stacked exposures, it’s possible to overcome heavy urban skyglow and reveal nebula details that most people only see from dark-sky locations.

This project proves that urban astrophotography is absolutely possible, even under strong New York City light pollution, when you combine good technique, accurate tracking, careful stacking, and thoughtful post-processing. Anyone with patience and the right workflow can capture real deep-sky images—even in a city that never sleeps.