The Backyard Stargazer

DSC_0040, originally uploaded by david parmet.

Orion is chock full of interesting things to look at. Everyone knows the Great Nebula – M42 and it’s neighbor M42, but there’s also the Flame and Horsehead Nebulea as well as a host of interesting stars, star clusters and other things to look for.

You can scan the region of Orion’s belt and sword (pictured above) with a good pair of binoculars and see the Great Nebula. Orion is up in the East this time of year – you can catch it just after sunset right above the horizon.