For all of Winter I have missed Orion in the night sky and until Summer the hunter will remain out of sight for all but the most dedicated night owls.

This is image of the hunter is quite special for me and realises, albeit only just, a goal I have had all my life. Gazing at astronomy books as a child I particularly remember one book in the school library with the amazing Horsehead Nebula gracing the front dust jacket. I have always wanted to see this Nebula for myself.

Now you have look carefully because it is only a few pixels across but there off the end of Orion’s belt in pink haze is that distinctive shape I have always wanted to see.

Technically this image is far from ideal. To the left there is significant light pollution from nearby Adelaide but it also quite visibly shows Barnard’s Loop (an unexpected surprise), the Fire Nebula and the Great Orion Nebula. Worth all the effort to setup and capture at three o’clock in the morning.

Now I am looking forward next time to getting a little closer.

Photo: Robert Rath, ‘Welcome Back Orion’, 30x60s f/2.8 ISO1600 50mm