I’m rather pleased with this picture of the Orion Nebula. I’ve never seen it before, sitting within Orion’s belt, and being basically invisible without an optical aid.

This was taken in my first session with an iOptron Star Tracker – a mount that sits on a regular photographic tripod to allow you to take photos of stars, tracking them as they move. That said, this is only a six second exposure taken in quite a dark Norfolk site (Yes – that’s how I spent my Christmas Eve).

The lens is my Sigma 70-200mm, with this exposure at the full 200mm end at F2.8. My camera is a crop-sensor model, so that makes it the equivalent of a 300mm lens. Here’s hoping for more clear skies…