Orion Skies

NGC 281, the Pacman

Nebula. Expert target.

For your DWARF 3. Change scope

Duo-Bandfilter
86°highest
One frameDWARF 3 tele
Oct, Novbest at 10pm

A glowing cloud in Cassiopeia, high on autumn nights.

Taken with a Dwarf 3

NGC 281, the Pacman Nebula, taken with a Dwarf 3
NGC 281, the Pacman Nebula
Astrofilter
60 sexposure
80frames
1 h 20 minin all
Taken with a Dwarf 3 by TPN Explorer, Tilton on the Hill, Leicestershire, 23 August 2026.

Will it fit?

Sky survey picture of NGC 281, the Pacman with the DWARF 3 frame drawn on it
The dashed box is the DWARF 3 tele frame, 2.93 by 1.65 degrees. It fits in one frame. Sky picture: DSS2 colour survey, via CDS hips2fits (Strasbourg).

Tonight from your location

Set your location in the menu bar to see how high it gets tonight.

Settings by level

Use EQ mode for this oneNebulae are faint and need hours of shots. Without EQ mode the picture slowly turns through the night and the edges are lost when it stacks. Set up EQ mode on the tripod before you search for NGC 281, the Pacman. How to set up EQ mode.

Beginner

EQmode
Autosettings
Duo-Bandfilter
Set to fitshots

Improver

EQmode
15 sexposure
70gain
Duo-Bandfilter
200+frames

Expert

EQmode
60 sexposure
70gain
Duo-Bandfilter
100+frames

Will my run fit tonight?

Beginner: Auto picks well, but check the filter by eye and set the number of shots to finish before cloud or the Moon. See Improver and Expert for why.

Join to tick it off and share your picture of it.

All targets