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Viewing the Constellations with Binoculars
Nebula M 43 ( 7m/200 150 ) is in fact a part of the same cloud of gases and dust as the Orion Nebula. These objects are separated by a belt of opaque matter. On the images depicting the Orion Nebula, M 43 is always ‘‘there,’’ and many observers are not even aware that it has its own designation. In binoculars, it is seen only as some kind of an outgrowth from the northeastern part of the large nebula. M 43 is also seen only because it has its own star (magnitude 8) that illuminates the clouds of cold gases and dust. The open cluster NGC 1981 (4m6/250 ) lies just 1 degree north of the Orion Nebula, and it therefore appears in the same field of view of binoculars. The cluster is very loose, composed of only 15 stars of magnitudes between 6 and 10. The detailed chart on page 367 can help you to recognize the stars within the cluster, which is approximately 1,300 light years from us.
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Figure 10.12 On this detailed chart of M 78 the brightest arc of the eastern part of Barnard’s Loop is also drawn. Its image can be seen on the next page. Barnard’s Loop is seldom seen ‘‘live.’’ But on some perfect winter nights, if the sky is especially dark, it is suitable for such a challenge!