The Great Orion Nebula (M42)

Not been blipping for a wee while, as life has been hectic with the kids, work etc. That and the fact my other camera (a webcam) is away getting a new CCD chip which will make it more light sensitive and less noisy for astrophotography.
Tonight was a bit of a let-down. First the motors wouldn't drive the mount (counter-weight was too heavy), then after that, the stars were badly trailing (mount not properly aligned). All fixed as good as I could... then... clouds!!!!
I really really really really hate the weather just now. This has been the only night in about 3 months that I've had the chance to do any astronomy, because of the weather!

Still learning, and hopefully when the webcam comes back, my imaging will improve, and the weather too ;)

Orions Nebula (Messier 42) lies just below the belt in the costellation Orion, visible during the winter months in the UK. Under a dark sky, you can just make out the nebula (averted vision works wonders). It is a star forming nebula and new stars are created within it's depths.

Imaged with a ST80 shorty refractor. noisy because the ISO was up at 800!!