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Star Clusters { 401 images } Created 19 Feb 2011

This Gallery contains deep-sky images of open and globular star clusters, as well as some asterisms. Constellations are contained in their own Galleries. Use the Search function to look for specific objects by catalog, by number or by name. There are separate Galleries for Messier and for NGC/IC objects but objects in those Galleries are also here, and vice versa.
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  • Andromeda in a stack of 5 x 4 minute exposures with the Canon 5D MkII at ISO 800 and 50mm Sigma lens at f/3.2. Plus two exposures taken thru the Kenko Softon filter for the star glows. Takes in the Andromeda Galaxy, M31, at upper centre, plus Triangulum Galaxy, M33, below centre, and NGC 752 star cluster (left of centre), and M34 cluster at left edge. The small constellation of Triangulum is bottom left. Taken from home Oct 5, 2013.
    Andromeda (50mm 5DII).jpg
  • The colourful region around Antares in Scorpius, the yellow star at centre. To the right is the globular cluster Messier 4. Above right of Antares is the smaller globular NGC 6144. Above are the nebulas associated with Rho Ophiuchi. The area is filled with reflection (yellow and blue) and emission nebulas (red and pink). The field simulates a binocular field.<br />
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This is a stack of 5 x 2-minute exposures with the 200mm lens at f/2.8 and filter-modified Canon 5D MkII at ISO 1600.
    Antares Region (200mm 5DII).jpg
  • A framing of the northern winter sky constellations of Auriga (left) and Perseus (upper right). The Messier star clusters M36, M37 and M38 in Auriga show up well at lower left, along with the Flaming Star, IC 405, and other IC nebulas in Auriga. The large nebula at bottom right is NGC 1499, the California Nebula. The grouping of blue stars at upper right is the Perseus OB Association, aka Melotte 20. Mars is at lower left in Taurus, where it was on March 17, 2023.<br />
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This is a stack of 15 x 2-minute exposures with the Canon RF28-70mm lens at 43mm and f/2.8 and on the filter-modified Canon Ra camera at ISO 800, on the Star Adventurer tracker. Star glows added by layering in a separate 2-minute exposure taken through a Kase/Alyn Wallace StarGlow filter. Taken from home March 17, 2023 with this area of sky in the southwest and plagued by some gradients, reduced with masks in Adobe Camera Raw and with Gradient XTerminator.
    Auriga and Perseus (43mm Ra).jpg
  • The field of clusters and nebulosity in Auriga, with — from left to right — Messier 37, Messier 36, and Messier 38, as the main open star clusters here. Below M38 is NGC 1907. The nebulosity at right is IC 410 and IC 405, the Flaming Star Nebula. In between them is the colourful asterism known as the Little Fish. Messier 38 is also known as the Starfish Cluster while Messier 36 is called the Pinwheel Cluster. The bright red nebula at top is Sharpless 2-235. The litttle nebulas at centre are NGC 1931 and IC 417.<br />
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The field is similar to that of binoculars. <br />
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This is a stack of 5 x 3-minute exposures with the Canon 5D MkII at ISO 800 and 200mm Canon L-Series lens at f/2.8.  Taken with the Fornax Lightrack tracker as part of testing. Diffraction spikes added with Astronomy Tools actions. Taken from home on a rare fine and mild winter night, January 4, 2019.
    Auriga Clusters and Nebulas (200mm 5...jpg
  • This is a portrait of the main glowing nebulas amid star clusters in central Auriga, the Charioteer. <br />
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The main nebula at right is the Flaming Star Nebula, aka IC 405. But in this long exposure its mass blends into the central roundish nebula, IC 410. At top left is the pair of Sharpless nebulas, Sh 2-232 and the small Sh 2-235. The fingerlike nebula at top centre is Sh 2-230. The star cluster just to its left is Messier 38, with the small cluster NGC 1907 just below M38. The star cluster at left centre is Messier 36. At centre frame is the nebula IC 417 around the cluster Stock 8. The line of colourful stars at lower right between IC 405 and IC 410 is the Little FIsh or Flying Minnow asterism, aka Mel 11. <br />
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This is a stack of 6 x 8-minute exposures at ISO 3200 through an Optolong L-Enhance dual-band nebula filter, blended another filtered set of 6 x 16-minute exposures at ISO 3200 with the Optolong L-eXtreme narrowband filter, all blended with a stack of 6 x 8-minute exposures without a filter (for more natural star colors and the blue reflection nebula in IC 405) at ISO 800. All with the Canon EOS Ra camera through the f/5 51mm William Optics RedCat astrograph with a Starizona filter drawer. Autoguiding was with the Lacerta MGEN3 autoguider which applied a dithering shift between each frame to help cancel out thermal noise when stacking. No darks or LENR were used here on this mild winter night at -5° C or so. <br />
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All stacking, alignment and blending was in Adobe Photoshop 2021. Luminosity masks (DM2, D and M) applied with Lumenzia helped bring out the faint nebulosity. The set was taken as part of testing the L-eXtreme filter to determine its effectiveness in bringing out more nebulosity. It did not contribute much to this stack and required even more exposure time that would have been better spent taking more unfiltered and L-eNhance frames.
    Auriga Nebulas (RedCat 51 + EOS Ra w...jpg
  • A wide-field image of the region of Perseus and Taurus from the pink California Nebula (NGC 1499) at top, to the blue Pleiades star cluster (M45) at bottom. In between and surrounding the main bright objects are many tendrils of interstellar dust clouds, varying in shades of brown and pale blue. <br />
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Around the Pleiades the faint clouds reflect some of the lblue light of the young stars, but away from the Pleiades the clouds take on a warm reddish tone, or appear as just dark fingers blocking all light from behind. At centre right are some brighter patches known as IC 348 around the star Atik, aka Omicron Persei. The glow at left in the darkest cloud is IC 2087. The small star cluster at upper right is NGC 1342.<br />
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This is a stack of 30 x 4-minute exposures with the Canon EOS Ra camera at ISO 800, and the low-cost Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 lens at f/4 and shooting through a NISI Natural Night light pollution filter, a mild broadband filter. The lens, despite being stopped down, is still subject to some chromatic aberration, which lens corrections help with but cannot fully eliminate at the raw development stage. <br />
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All stacking, alignment and processing with Photoshiop 2021, with luminosity masks created with Lumenzia v9 extension panel , which was very helpful in bringing the faint dust clouds out from the dark background. No dark frames or LENR applied on this cool winter night.
    California to Pleiades (85mm EOS Ra).jpg
  • A framing of the northern spring constellation of Cancer the Crab, between the constellations of Leo (at left with the bright star Regulus) and part of Gemini (at upper right with Castor and Pollux) and Canis Minor (at lower right woth Procyon). Cancer is marked by the large binocular star cluster, Messier 44, the Beehive, at centre here. The head of Hydra is at bottom centre. Between the two is the small star cluster M67, just resolved here. <br />
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This is a stack of 11 x 2-minute exposures with the Canon RF28-70mm lens at 34mm and f/3.5 and on the filter-modified (by AstroGear) Canon R camera at ISO 800, on the Star Adventurer tracker. An additional single 2-minute exposure through a Kase/Alyn Wallace StarGlow filter and layered and blended in Photoshop added the photogenic star glows, to accentutate the constellation patterns and star colours. Taken from home March 16, 2023.
    Cancer Between Leo and Gemini (28mm ...jpg
  • A framing of most of the northern spring constellation of Cancer the Crab. Cancer is marked by the large binocular star cluster, Messier 44, the Beehive, at centre here. At bottom is the small star cluster M67, just resolved here. Pollux is at upper right, in Gemini. The brightest star at top centre is the double star Iota Cancri. Immediately to the left is a double star, resolved here, with the top star in the pair being 55 Cancri, home to a notable extra-solar planetary system.<br />
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This is a stack of 14 x 2-minute exposures with the Canon RF28-70mm lens at 61mm and f/2.8 and on the filter-modified Canon Ra camera at ISO 800, on the Star Adventurer tracker. An additional single 2-minute exposure through a Kase/Alyn Wallace StarGlow filter and layered and blended in Photoshop added the photogenic star glows, to accentutate the star colours. Taken from home March 17, 2023.
    Cancer Clusters (60mm Ra).jpg
  • A mosaic of the amazingly rich area of Carina and Centaurus with their many superb nebulas and star clusters in this southernmost area of the Milky Way. <br />
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The Carina Nebula (NGC 3372) is at upper right; the Running Chicken Nebula (IC 2948) is at lower left (aka the Lambda Centauri Nebula). The small red and magenta nebulas at centre are NGC 3603 and NGC 3576. <br />
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The Southern Pleiades cluster (IC 2602) is at bottom right. The Pearl Cluster (NGC 3766) is above the Running Chicken at left. The cluster IC 2714 is to the right of the Chicken amid dark nebulas. The Gem Cluster (NGC 3324) is above and right of the Carina Nebula but small and unresolved here. The Football Cluster (NGC 3532) is top centre, though partly lost amid the rich starfield. <br />
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This is a mosaic of three segments, taken with the camera in portrait orientation, stitched with Photoshop to make a square framing of the area. Each segment was a stack of 4 x 2-minute exposures at f/2.8 with the 200mm Canon L-series lens and filter-modified Canon 5D MkII at ISO 2500. Tracked on the AP400 mount but unguided. Shot from Tibuc Gardens Cottage, Coonabarabran, Australia.
    Carina-Centaurus Nebula Mosaic v1 (2...jpg
  • A mosaic of the amazingly rich area of Carina and Centaurus with their many superb nebulas and star clusters in this southernmost area of the Milky Way. <br />
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The Carina Nebula (NGC 3372) is at upper centre; the Running Chicken Nebula (IC 2948) is at lower left (aka the Lambda Centauri Nebula). The small red and magenta nebulas at centre are NGC 3603 and NGC 3576. <br />
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The Southern Pleiades cluster (IC 2602) is at bottom right. The Pearl Cluster (NGC 3766) is above the Running Chicken at left. The cluster IC 2714 is to the right of the Chicken amid dark nebulas. The Gem Cluster (NGC 3324) is above and right of the Carina Nebula but small and unresolved here. The Football Cluster (NGC 3532) is top centre, though partly lost amid the rich starfield. The Southern Crescent Nebula (NGC 3199) is at upper right.<br />
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This is a mosaic of six segments, taken with the camera in landscape orientation, stitched with Photoshop to make a square framing of the area. Each segment was a stack of 4 x 2-minute exposures at f/2.8 with the 200mm Canon L-series lens and filter-modified Canon 5D MkII at ISO 2500. Tracked on the AP400 mount but unguided. Shot from Tibuc Gardens Cottage, Coonabarabran, Australia.
    Carina-Centaurus Nebula Mosaic v2 (2...jpg
  • The Carina Nebula framed to include the double star Chi Velorum, at top, also known as the Southern Albireo, or Albireo Australis. The Gem Cluster, NGC 3293, is above and to the right of the main nebula. <br />
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This is a stack of 5 x 6-minute exposures with the Borg 77mm f/4 astrograph and filter-modified Canon 5D MkII at ISO 1600. Taken from Tibuc Cottage, Australia, April 11, 2016.
    Carina Nebula & Chi Velorum (77m...jpg
  • The Carina Nebula, NGC 3572, and surrounding clusters. To the upper left is NGC 3532, the Football Cluster. To the upper right is NGC 3293, the Gem Cluster To the lower left is the nebula complex NGC 3576/81. This is a stack of 5 x 10 minute exposures at f/4.3 with the Borg 77mm astrograph (330mm focal length) and filter-modified Canon 5D MkII at ISO 800. Taken from Coonabarabran, Australia, March 2014.
    Carina Nebula & Clusters (77mm 5...jpg
  • The Carina Nebula, NGC 3372, and the Football Cluster, NGC 3532, at left, in a wide-field view with a 200mm telephoto lens to match a binocular field of view. At upper right is the Gem Cluster, NGC 3293. At lower left are the nebulas NGC 3576 and NGC 3603.<br />
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This is a stack of 4 x 2-minute exposures with a 200mm lens at f/2.8 and filter-modified Canon 5D MkII at ISO 2500. Tracked but unguided on the AP 400 mount.
    Carina Nebula & NGC 3532 (200mm ...jpg
  • The spectacular region of sky around the Carina Nebula, NGC 3372, in Carina, with its adjacent nebulas and open star clusters. NGC 3532, the Football Cluster is at left, while NGC 3293, the Gem Cluster, is at upper right. At far right is the ear-lobed shaped Crescent Nebula, NGC 3199, a remnant of a Wolf-Rayet star and its stellar winds. <br />
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This is a two-panel mosaic, with each panel a stack of 4 x 6-minute exposures with the Borg 77mm f/4 astrographic refractor and filter modified Canon 5D MkII at ISO 1600. Stitched in Photoshop. Shot April 3/4, 2016 from Tibuc Cottage, Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. Autoguided with the SBIG SG-4 guider.
    Carina Nebula Panorama (77mm 5DII).jpg
  • The Carina Nebula, NGC 3372, above the Southern Pleiades star cluster, IC 2602. At upper left is the Football Cluster, NGC 3532. At left are the colurful nebula NGC 3603 and NGC 3576. <br />
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This is a stack of 4 x 2-minute exposures with the 200mm lens at f/2.8 and filtger-modified Canon 5D MkII at ISO 2500. Tracked on the AP 400 mount. Taken from Coonabarabran, Australia.
    Carina Nebula & Southern Pleiade...jpg
  • This is a wide shot encompassing the constellation of Cassiopeia the Queen in the northern autumn sky, showing the variety of colours in the starclouds and nebulas that populate this section of the Milky Way. The colours are brought out by the long exposure used and by contrast enhancements in processing. But yes, they are real! This is not false colour. <br />
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The pink emission nebulas of the Heart and Soul Nebulas (IC 1848 and IC 1805 respectively), at left, and the NGC 7822/Ced 214 complex, at top, dominate. The small pink patch at bottom is the Pacman Nebula, NGC 281. At upper right are the faint nebulas around the star cluster M52, including the Bubble Nebula, NGC 7635. The purple glows near the star Gamma Cassiopeiae, aka Navi, at centre are the reflection nebulas IC 59 and IC 63. <br />
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Lots of star clusters populate the area, including the Double Cluster in Perseus at lower left, and NGC 7789, Caroline's Rose, at right. NGC 663 and NGC 457 are the star clusters below the left side of the W that marks Cassiopeia. <br />
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This is a stack of 14 x 2-minute exposures with the Canon RF 28-70mm lens at 62mm and f/2.5 on the Canon EOS Ra at ISO 1600, and on the Star Adventurer Mini tracker. The lens had a URTH Night filter on it to reduce light pollution and airglow discolouration. Taken from home October 1, 2021 on a night with some loss of transparency due to haze. Nebulosity was brought out with the aid of luminosity and colour range masks created with Lumenzia. An additional exposure through an Alyn Wallace/Kase Starglow filter layered in adds the subtle star glows to make the "W" stars pop. <br />
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All stacking, alignment and blending done in Photoshop.
    Cassiopeia Clusters and Nebulas (RF2...jpg
  • A portrait of the W-shaped constellation of Cassiopeia, with her various star clusters and emission nebulas, and with the area laced with dark nebula. .  <br />
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For nebulas — At upper left is IC 1805 and IC 1848, the Heart and Soul Nebulas. At upper right is NGC 7822 and Ced 214. At bottom is NGC 281 the Pacman Nebula. Just below centre is the faint IC 59 and IC 63 reflection nebulas near the star Gamma Cassiopeiae.  <br />
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For star clusters — at far left is the Double Cluster NGC 869 and NGC 884. Left of  centre is NGC 663. Below centre is NGC 457. At bottom right on the edge of the frame is NGC 7789.  I should have framed the scene a bit farther to the south! <br />
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This is a stack of 11 x 6-minute tracked but unguided exposures at f/2.8 with the Rokinon 85mm lens and Canon EOS Ra at ISO 1600, blended with a single simular exposure through a Kenko Softon A filter to add the star glows. All were also shot through an Astronomik CLS clip-in filter,  to reduce sky glow and enhance the nebulas.  Taken December 4, 2020 from home on the AP Mach 1 mount.
    Cassiopeia Clusters & Nebulas (8...jpg
  • A framing of some of the main open star clusters in eastern Cassiopeia, including: NGC 663 at lower left and NGC 457 at upper right. NGC 457 is known as the Owl or ET Cluster. Above NGC 457 is smaller NGC 436 and above NGC 663 is smaller NGC 654. To the right of NGC 663 is NGC 659. Between NGC 663 and the bright blue star Ruchbah is Messier 103. The yellowed cluster in the extreme lower left corner is Be 6.<br />
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This is a stack of 20 x 5-minute exposures with the SharpStar 76mm EDPH with its f/4.5 reducer/flattener, and the Canon R5 at ISO 800, on the Star Adventurer GTi mount, autoguided with the Lacerta MGEN3. No filters were employed.
    Cassiopeia Clusters (SS76 R5).jpg
  • The starfield in eastern Cassiopeia containing an abundance of open star clusters. The most prominent is NGC 663, aka the Letter S Cluster, at bottom. Above it is NGC 654; to its right is NGC 659. At centre is Messier 103. At far right is NGC 457, the ET or Owl Cluster. Above it is NGC 463. The star at far left is Epsilon Cass; the star at right of centre is Delta Cas, aka Ruchba. The 7.5 x 5° field is close to a binocular field of view. <br />
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This is a stack of 15 x 4-minute exposures with the SharpStar 61mm apo refractor at f/4.5 and with the Canon R6 at ISO 800. Taken from home Oct. 1, 2021. Diffraction spikes added with Astronomy Tools actions.
    Cassiopeia Clusters with M103 (SS61 ...jpg
  • A framing of some of the main star clusters (and some nebulas) in Cassiopeia and Perseus. <br />
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At left are the Heart and Soul Nebulas in Cassiopeia, aka IC 1805 and IC 1848 respectively, plus the smaller and more intense patch of nebulosity NGC 896. With these nebulas are the star clusters NGC 1027 and Mel 15. At bottom is the famous Double Cluster, NGCs 884 and 869. The small cluster NGC 957 is to the left of the Double Cluster. At upper right below the line joining the two bright stars in Cassiopeia is the prominent star cluster NGC 663, with NGC 654 above and M103 to the right. The reddened object left of NGC 663 is the cluster IC 166. At far right is NGC 457, the ET Cluster. <br />
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This is a stack of 15 x 2-minute tracked but unguided exposures with the Canon EF135mm lens at f/2.8 and Canon Ra at ISO 1250, with a NISI Natural Night broadband filter on the lens to enhance the nebulosity. Taken from home on a very clear night September 20, 2022. Taken with the Star Adventurer GTi tracker/equatorial mount as part of testing the mount.
    Cassiopeia & Perseus Clusters (1...jpg
  • A telephoto lens shot of the cluster and nebula region of the Cassiopeia-Perseus border, with the Double Cluster at lower right, and the Heart and Soul Nebulas at centre. They are also known as IC 1805 andf IC 1848 respectively. The bright patch off the top right of IC 1805 is NGC 896. Cluster NGC 663 is at top right edge in Cassiopeia. This is a stack of 5 x 6 minute exposures at ISO 800 with the Canon 5D MkII and 135mm lens at f/2.8. Taken from home.
    Cassiopeia-Perseus Nebulas & Clu...jpg
  • The area around the centre of the Galaxy in Sagittarius, with the direction of the galactic centre at right just above the small red emission nebula, Sharpless 2-16, in the dark dust lane of the Milky Way. At left is the rich Sagittarius Starcloud with the small open cluster NGC 6520 at top next to the small dark nebula Barnard 86. The small globular clusters, NGC 6522 and 6528, looking like stars here, are just above gamma Sagittarii at lower left.<br />
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This is a stack of 5 x 5 minute exposures with the Borg 77mm f/4 astrograph and filter-modified Canon 5D MkII at ISO 1600, taken from Tibuc Cottage near Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia.
    Centre of the Galaxy (77mm 5DII).jpg
  • The Coal Sack and Jewel Box Cluster area on the east side of Crux, the Southern Cross. The Coal Sack, which to the eye looks like a large dark patch, under photography breaks up into small patches, the darkest just south of the Jewel Box Cluster, here just below and left of Becrux, or Beta Crucis. Other star clusters in the scene are NGC 4852 at top left, Trumpler 20 at right. and NGC 4609 at lower centre. The cluster at far right above Acrux is NGC 4349. The small intensely red area left of centre is the nebula Gum 46. The star at lower right is Acrux, Alpha Crucis.<br />
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This is a stack of 5 x 8 minute exposures with the Borg 77mm astrographic apo refractor (330mm focal length) at f/4.3 and with the filter-modified Canon 5D Mark II at ISO 800. Taken from Coonabarabran, Australia, March 2014.
    Coal Sack and Jewel Box (7mm 5DII) #...jpg
  • A panaoramic mosaic of the southern Milky Way region from the Coal Sack dark nebula and Alpha Cruxis, (aka Acrux) at left, to IC 2944/8, the Running Chicken Nebula, at right, with the star cluster, NGC 3766, above. The cluster IC 2714 is at the lower right corner. The star cluster NGC 4609 is left of Acrux, in the Coal Sack. <br />
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This is a 3-panel mosaic, each panel a 4 x 6-minute exposure with the Borg 77mm f/4 astrograph and filter-modified Canon 5D MkII at ISO 1600. Stacking and stitching in Photoshop CC 2015. Taken from Tibuc Cottage, Australia, April 11, 2016.
    Coal Sack to Lambda Centauri Mosaic ...jpg
  • The Coathanger star cluster and asterism in the Milky Way in southern Cygnus, aka Collinder 399 or Brocchi’s Cluster. The field is similar to what a pair of large binoculars would show. I shot this from home Nov. 25, 2019. <br />
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This is a stack of 6 x 2-minute unguided exposures with the 200mm Canon telephoto at f/2.8 and stock Canon 6D MkII at ISO 1600. An additional exposure taken through the Kenko Softon A filter adds the star glows. All were with the camera on the Fornax LighTrack II tracker.
    Coathanger Cluster (200mm 6DII).jpg
  • The colourful region in and around the Coathanger asterism in Vulpecula the Fox. The grouping is not a star cluster per se, though it is catalogued as one, Collinder 399. It is also known as Brocchi's Cluster. A true star cluster, NGC 6802, is located at the east (left) end of the Coathanger, as the small clump of stars. The area is also rich in faint nebulosity, notably: the Sharpless 2-83 reflection nebula complex above the Coathanger, and the small, round Sharpless 2-82 emission and reflection nebula below the Coathanger. The large area of red emission nebula at bottom right is not catalogued or labelled in any of the star atlases I have, including the Millenium Star Atlas and Uranometria. However, the small round red "nebula" on the bottom edge of the large nebula is actually a highly reddened globular cluster, Palomar 10. This area of the Milky Way is rich in dark nebulas and absorbing dust, yellowing the fields. <br />
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This is a stack of 10 x 5-minute exposures through the SharpStar 61EDPH II refractor with its flattener/reducer at f/4.5 and the red-sensitive Canon Ra, though with no filter employed here. The mount was the little Star Adventurer GTi portable GoTo mount undergoing testing, and autoguided with the ZWO ASIAir and its little 30mm guidescope, with the Air also controlling the Ra and performing dithering moves between each exposure. The guiding worked very well. No darks or LENR were applied here, but the stacking averaged out the thermal noise hot pixels on this fairly warm autumn night, September 27, 2022. <br />
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All stacking and alignment with Photoshop. A mild Orton Glow effect added with Luminar AI, plus an application of PK Actions Dark Detail Hard action (a form of high-pass sharpening), two somewhat opposing effects -- i.e. fine sharpening plus overall softening. But the result does punch up the nebulosity, as does some luminosity masked curves adjustment layers from TK Actions and Lumenzia. Noise reduction was with RC Astro's Noise XTerminator.
    Coathanger Cluster Cr399 (SS61 Ra).jpg
  • Taken with 4-inch apo refractor at f/4.5 with Canon 20Da camera at IS0800 for 5 minutes. Stack of two exposures. One layer median filtered and gaussian blurred to enhance glows around stars.
    Coathanger CR399 (4in f4.5).jpg
  • Coathanger Cluster aka Collinder 399 and Brocchi's Cluster<br />
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Thru Vixen 108DD astrograph at f/5 with Pentax 67 body and Fujichrome 400F slide film. 540mm focal length with about 7.5° wide field. Exposure about 20 minutes long taken in moonlight from rising waning Moon. Thus the blue sky which has been emphasized rather than neutralized.<br />
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Taken July 2003 from home.
    Coathanger Cr399 (6x7 Bino Field).jpg
  • The asterism known as the Coathanger, aka Cr 399, in Vulpecula, at upper right here. The faint blue reflection nebula above it is Sharpless 2-83; the small reflection nebula at bottom is Sh-2-82. The small open cluster off the left tip of the Coathanger is NGC 6802. The Coathanger asterism is a fine one for binoculars. The 7.5 x 5° field is close to a binocular field of view. <br />
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This is a stack of 12 x 6-minute exposures with the SharpStar 61mm apo refractor at f/4.5 and with the Canon R6 at ISO 1250. Taken from home Sept. 30, 2021. Diffraction spikes added with Astronomy Tools actions.
    Coathanger with NGC 6802 (SS61 R6).jpg
  • This area in Cygnus that contains the circular Cocoon Nebula, aka IC 5146, located at the end of the long dark nebula called the Dark Cigar but officially is Barnard 168. The nebulas are flanked by two open star clusters: NGC 7209 at far left just over the border in Lacerta, and Messier 39 at far right. <br />
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NGC 7209 barely stands out amid the rich starfield here, just below an orange star, while M39 is bright but sparse at right.  The clusters and dark nebula stand out well in binoculars but the Cocoon Nebula is a challenge to see in telescopes. <br />
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This is a stack of 6 x 6-minute exposures with the William Optics RedCat 51mm astrographic refractor at f/5 and the Canon EOS Ra at ISO 800 with LENR on as it was the warmest night of the summer, August 18, 2020. Aligned, stacked and median combined in Photoshop to eliminate some satellite trails. Autoguided with the ZWO ASIAir and ASI120MM guide camera with the RedCat on the Astro-Physics Mach1 mount. No filters employed here.
    Cocoon Nebula and Clusters (RedCat E...jpg
  • The loose open star cluster Collinder 140 in southern Canis Major, a zig-zag line of stars (which looks like a letter J visually through binoculars) just left of centre here. The orientation is along the Milky Way here, so north is at right, not at top. This is a stack of five 2-minute exposures with the Canon L-series 135mm lens at f/2.8 and Canon 7D at ISO 1250. The field simulates a binocular field of roughly 7°.
    Collinder 140 J Cluster (135mm Bino ...jpg
  • Coma Berenices star cluster aka Melotte 111. This is a stack of 4 x 6 minute exposures at ISO 1600 with the Canon 7D on the TMB 92mm apo refractor with Borg 0.85x reducer/flattener for f/4.5. Taken on a slightly hazy night, April 22, 2011 using AP 600E mount and SG4 autoguider.
    Coma Berenices Cluster Mel111 (92mm ...jpg
  • Coma Berenices star cluster aka Melotte 111. This is a stack of 4 x 6 minute exposures at ISO 1600 with the Canon 7D on the TMB 92mm apo refractor with Borg 0.85x reducer/flattener for f/4.5. Taken on a slightly hazy night, April 22, 2011 using AP 600E mount and SG4 autoguider.
    Coma Berenices Cluster Mel111 with S...jpg
  • The large star cluster in Coma Berenices catalogued as Mel111, at right, and two prominent galaxies at left: the Needle Galaxy, NGC 4565, at lower left, and NGC 4559 at upper left. NGC 4494 is between NGC 4565 and the star cluster at bottom. <br />
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This is a stack of 19 x 4-minute exposures with the Sky-Watcher Evolux 82ED refractor and its 0.9x Corrector/Reducer for a focal length of 477mm at f/5.8. The Canon EOS Ra was at ISO 800. Images taken as part of testing this telescope in April 2022.
    Coma Berenices Cluster with Evolux 8...jpg
  • The constellation of Coma Berenices with the large open cluster Mel 111 at top right. Numerous galaxies show up even at this wide scale and even the globular cluster M53 as the fuzzy star at lower left. <br />
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This is a stack of 5 x 2-minute exposures with the Rokinon 85mm lens at f/2.8 and Canon 6D MkII at ISO 1600, blended with a single image taken through the Kenko Softon A filter to add the star glows. All with the iOptron SkyGuider Pro tracker. Taken May 24, 2020 between the clouds!
    Coma Berenices Constellation (85mm 6...jpg
  • The large star cluster in Coma Berenices known officially as Melotte 111, at right, with two of the most prominent galaxies in Coma at left: NGC 4559 at top and the Needle Galaxy, NGC 4565, at bottom. Several other fainter galaxies are in the field. I shot this April 2, 2021 on a less-then-ideal hazy night as a test of the new SharpStar 94mm EDPH refractor telescope and its matching field flattener/reducer. The high haze added the star glows and accentuated the star colours, so did make for a nice image in the end. <br />
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And despite the haze, galaxies as faint as 14th magnitude are recorded, such as tiny NGC 4562 below the Needle Galaxy. <br />
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This is a stack of 10 x 6-minute exposures at ISO 800 with the Canon EOS Ra, autoguided on the Astro-Physics Mach 1 mount with the Lacerta MGEN3 stand-alone autoguided set to dither 5 pixels between each exposure. The field of view is about 3.3° x 5°.
    Coma Berenices & Galaxies (SS 94...jpg
  • The Coma Berenices star cluster, aka Mel 111, with a smattering of galaxies, taken under dark skies on a spring evening. The edge-on galaxy NGC 4565 is at left.<br />
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I shot this as a test of the William Optics RedCat 51mm f/5 astrographic refractor (which provides a focal lengthof 250mm). This was on the iOptron SkyGuider Pro tracker, a popular portable mount to use with the RedCat. I used it unguided for a set of 2-minute exposures. Of the 20 exposures, 12 were relatively untrailed and so were selected for stacking for this image. <br />
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This is a stack of 12 x 2-minutes at ISO 1250 with the Canon EOS Ra. Stacked and blended in Photoshop CC. The little RedCat astrograph is very sharp to the corners. The field is about 8° by 5.5°.
    Coma Berenices in Dark Sky (WO51 EOS...jpg
  • The Coma Berenices star cluster, aka Mel 111, with a smattering of galaxies, taken in the deepening twilight and growing moonlight of a spring evening. The edge-on galaxy NGC 4565 is at left.<br />
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I shot this as a test of the William Optics RedCat 51mm f/5 astrographic refractor. This was on the iOptron SkyGuider Pro tracker, a popular portable mount to use with the RedCat. I used it unguided for a set of 2 minute exposures. But only 6 of the 12 images taken in quick succession were untrailed enough to be usable in the stack, about typical for shooting with a tracker unguided with focal lengths over 135mm.  <br />
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This is a stack of 6 x 2-minutes at ISO 800 with the Canon EOS Ra. Stacked and blended in Photoshop CC. Taken as the waning gibbous Moon was rising this night on May 8, 2020.  The little RedCat astrograph is very sharp to the corners. The field is about 8° by 5.5°.
    Coma Berenices in Moonlight (WO51 EO...jpg
  • The Coma Berenices star cluster, aka Melotte 111, at right, with two prominent galaxies at left: NGC 4559 at top left and edge-on NGC 4565 at bottom left. <br />
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This is a stack of 6 x 8 minute exposures with the SharpStar 76mm apo refractor with the EDPH field flattener for f/4.5 and with the Canon EOS Ra at ISO 800. Diffraction spikes added for effect using Astronomy Tools actions.
    Coma Berenices Star Cluster and Gala...jpg
  • The Coma Berenices star cluster, aka Mel 111, with star glows added from haze in the sky to accentuate the star colours. The edge-on galaxy NGC 4565 (the Needle Galaxy) is at lower left; the spiral galaxy NGC 4559 is at upper left. Several other smaller NGC galaxies are in the field, which is similar to the field of view of binoculars. <br />
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This is a stack of 7 x 4-minute exposures in a clear sky blended with 2 x 4-minutes with the haze moved in, all with the Sharpstar 61mm EDPHII refractor at f/4.5 and Canon EOS Ra camera at ISO 1600 (with no filters used). Taken April 1, 2022 from home.
    Coma Berenices Star Cluster in Haze ...jpg
  • The large star cluster in Coma Berenices called Mel111, accompanied by several galaxies, notably the edge-on NGC 4565 at lower left and the spiral NGC 4559 at upper left. The field of view is 7.5° by 5°, so similar to binoculars.<br />
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This is a stack of 12 x 6-minute exposures with the Sharpstar 61mm EDPH II telescope at f/4.6 with its reducer (for a focal length of 280mm), and Canon EOS Ra at ISO 800. Sub-frames dithered with the MGEN3 auto-guider. No darks applied. Diffraction spikes added in post for artistic effect.
    Coma Berenices Star Cluster (SS61 Ra...jpg
  • Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) in the constellation of Auriga on the night of Feb 8, 2023. The comet is the small cyan-coloured glow above centre. It was technically in Auriga but heading south into Taurus and in front of the Taurus Dark Clouds here at centre. Mars is the bright orange object right of centre. <br />
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At right are the Pleiades and Hyades star clusters, the latter with reddish Aldebaran. Other Messier-catalogue star clusters are in the frame: M36, M37 and M38 in Auriga and M35 in Gemini. The red emission nebulas in this part of the Milky Way also stand out, notably the California Nebula, NGC 1499, at top in Perseus, and the Flaming Star Nebula, IC 405, in Auriga at centre. At bottom is the large faint nebula around Lambda Orionis, or Meissa, in Orion. Capella is at top; Castor and Pollux are at left. <br />
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This is a stack of 4 x 1-minute exposures at ISO 1600 with the red-sensitive AstroGear modified Canon R and with the RF28-70mm lens at f/2.8 and 28mm. This is one segment of a Milky Way panorama taken this night, from Dinosaur Provincial Park, using the Star Adventurer tracker.
    Comet C2022 E3 ZTF in Auriga (Feb 8,...jpg
  • Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) in the constellation of Taurus on the night of Feb 10, 2023. The comet is the cyan-coloured glow above bright orange Mars at upper left. <br />
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The framing takes in the major star clusters in Taurus: At upper right is the Pleiades star cluster, while the Hyades star cluster with reddish Aldebaran is at bottom. Other NGC catalogue star clusters are in this framing: NGC 1647 to the left of the Hyades and NGC 1746 to the left of the comet and Mars. Mars appears to be at the tip of a dark lane of interstellar dust in the Taurus Dark Clouds. <br />
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This is a stack of 10 x 2-minute exposures at ISO 1600 with Canon R5 and with the RF70-200mm lens at f/4 and 89mm. Tracked but unguided on the AP Mach1 mount, and taken from home. A mild diffusion effect added with Radiant Photo plug-in. Faint nebulosity brought out with luminosity masked curves from Lumenzia.
    Comet ZTF and Taurus Clusters (Feb 1...jpg
  • Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) in the constellation of Taurus on the night of Feb 10, 2023. The comet is the cyan-coloured glow above bright orange Mars. <br />
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At right is the Pleiades star cluster, while the Hyades star cluster with reddish Aldebaran is below. Other NGC catalogue star clusters are in this framing: NGC 1647 below centre, NGC 1746 below right of the comet and Mars, and NGC 1817 at lower left. Mars appears to be at the tip of a dark lane of interstellar dust in the Taurus Dark Clouds. <br />
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This is a stack of 8 x 2-minute exposures at ISO 800 with Canon R5 and with the RF28-70mm lens at f/2.8 and 65mm. The lens was stopped down from f/2 so the iris blades added the diffraction spikes. Tracked but unguided on the AP Mach1 mount, and taken from home. A mild diffusion effect added with Radiant Photo plug-in.
    Comet ZTF in Taurus (Feb 10, 2023).jpg
  • A portrait of green Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) in Taurus beside Aldebaran and the Hyades on February 14, 2023, with Mars at upper left, and the Pleiades at upper right. This frames some of the other NGC star clusters in Taurus.<br />
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This is a stack of 12 x 2-minute exposures with the Rokinon RF85mm lens at f/2.8 on the Canon R5 at ISO 800. Star glows added with MagicLight extension in Luminar Neo.
    Comet ZTF in Taurus (Feb 14, 2023).jpg
  • A portrait of green Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) in Taurus beside Aldebaran and the Hyades on February 14, 2023, with Mars at upper left, and the Pleiades at upper right. This frames some of the other NGC star clusters in Taurus.<br />
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This is a stack of 12 x 2-minute exposures with the Rokinon RF85mm lens at f/2.8 on the Canon R5 at ISO 800. Star glows added with MagicLight extension in Luminar Neo.
    Comet ZTF in Taurus (Feb 14, 2023).tif
  • A portrait of green Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) in Taurus beside Aldebaran and the Hyades on February 14, 2023. The star cluster NGC 1647 is at upper left.<br />
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This is a stack of 8 x 2-minute exposures with the Canon RF 70-200mm lens at f/5 on the Canon R5 at ISO 1600. Star glows with MagicLight extension in Luminar Neo.
    Comet ZTF Near Hyades (Feb 14, 2023).tif
  • The Coathanger asterism of stars, aka Cr399, in Vulpecula, with the small open cluster NGC 6802 at left. <br />
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I shot this from home on a very clear night on July 31, 2019, using the Astro-Physics Traveler and Hotech f/6 field flattener for a stack of 5 x 8-minute exposures at ISO 800 with the now 10-year-old filter-modified Canon 5D Mark II. Diffraction spikes added with Astronomy Tools actions..
    Cr399 Coathanger Asterism (105mm 5DI...jpg
  • Cr399 Coathanger Cluster or Brocchi's Cluster, with 135mm Canon L-lens at f/2.8 and Canon 20Da camera at ISO 800 for stack of 4 x 3 minute exposures. Taken Sept. 8, 2007; contains NGC 6802 cluster; Glow layer added to emphasize stars.
    Cr399 Coathanger Cluster area (135mm...jpg
  • A 3-panel mosaic of the Southern Cross, Crux, shot April 5, 2016 from Tibuc Cottage, Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. Acrux, Alpha Cruxis, is the star at bottom and Becrux, Beta Cruxis, is the star at left, with the Jewel Box Cluster, NGC 4755, just to the left of Becrux. Gacrux is at top and Delta Cruxis is at right. The star cluster NGC 4349 is above Alpha Cruxis. The bright red nebula in the dark Coal Sack is Gum 46. The rich cluster to the right of Becrux is Harvard 7. The dark nebulosity at lower left is the Coal Sack. The small cluster embedded in the Coal Sack to the left of Acrux is NGC 4609, what I call the Coal Dust Cluster. Slight haze or high cloud added the natural star glows here. <br />
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This is a moasic of 3 panels, each a stack of 4 x 4-minute exposures with the Borg 77mm f/4 astrograph and filter-modified Canon 5D MkII at ISO 1600. Stacked and stitched in Photoshop.
    Crux, Southern Cross, Mosaic (77mm 5...jpg
  • The Dark Doodad dark nebula in Musca in the southern sky, in a telephoto lens shot to simulate a binocular field of view. The globular clusters NGC 4372 (right) and NGC 4833 (left) are in the frame. <br />
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This is a stack of 4 x 2-minute exposures at f/2.8 with the 200mm lens and Canon 5D MkII at ISO 2500.
    Dark Doodad Nebula in Musca (200mm 5...jpg
  • The so-called “Dark Doodad” dark nebula in Musca, with the adjacent globular clusters, NGC 4372 below and NGC 4833 at left. I shot this from the Tibuc Cottage at Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia on March 31, 2016. <br />
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This is a stack of 5 x 6-minute exposures with the Borg 77mm f/4 astrograph and filter-modified Canon 5D MkII at ISO 1600.
    Dark Doodad & NGC 4372 (77mm 5DI...jpg
  • The Dark Doodad dark nebula in Musca the Fly, near the globular cluster NGC 4372 at lower right. The other globular cluster at upper left is NGC 4833.  <br />
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This is a stack of 5 x 8 minute exposures at f/4.3 with the Borg 77mm astrograph (330mm focal length) and Canon 5D MkII at ISO 800. Taken from Coonabarabran, Australia, March 2014.
    Dark Doodad & NGC 4372 (77mm 5DI...jpg
  • The Diamond Cluster NGC 2516 below the star Avior, or Epsilon Carinae, the bottom star of the False Cross. The cluster is a bright naked eye cluster. <br />
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This is a stack of 4 x 2-minute exposures with the 200mm lens at f/2.8 and filter-modified Canon 5D MkII at ISO 2500. Tracked on the AP400 mount.
    Diamond Cluster NGC 2516 (200mm 5DII...jpg
  • The well-known Double Cluster (aka NGC 884 and NGC 869) framed at upper right to include two of its companion star clusters, NGC 957 at upper left and Trumpler 2 at lower left. Dotted through the field of young blue stars are numerous aging yellow giant stars. And the gradation in sky colour from the clearer, bluer sky with more stars at right to the dustier, yellower sky and fewer stars at left is subtle but obvious here, from interstellar dust in this part of the Milky Way. <br />
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This is a stack of 8 x 6-minute exposures at ISO 800 with the Canon Ra and on the StarField Optics Géar80 apo refractor with its matching reducer/flattener for f/4.8. Taken from home through breaks in passing clouds as part of testing of this new scope. No darks or LENR used, just dithering between each frame using the MGEN autoguider. Diffraction spikes added with AstronomyTools actions in Photoshop for artistic effect.
    Double Cluster and Companion Cluster...jpg
  • The famous Double Cluster (NGC 869, right and NGC 884, left) in Perseus, in a wide-field shot that includes the nearby stars clusters NGC 957 to the left, and Trumpler 2 at bottom left. The large and sparse cluster Stock 2, aka the Muscle Man Cluster, is at upper right. The field is filled with yellow supergiant stars. The field of view is similar to that of binoculars. <br />
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This is a stack of 20 (!) x 3-minute exposures with the SharpStar 61EDPH II refractor with its reducer/flattener at f/4.5, and the Canon Ra at ISO 800. Autoguided with the MGENIII, on the Star Adventurer GTi mount taken as part of testing the mount. A slight camera tilt from the reducer's rotator mechanism being a bit loose produces slightly soft stars on the left side of the frame. Taken from home September 25, 2022.
    Double Cluster and Environs (SS61 Ra...jpg
  • The bright Double Cluster, at bottom, aka NGC 869 and NGC 884, below the large and scattered open star cluster, Stock 2, aka the Muscle Man Cluster, with a chain of stars between them. Stcok 2 is over the border in Cassiopeia. These are obvious in binoculars but less so in a long exposure photo. High haze this night added the natural star glows. <br />
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The field simulates the field of view of higher-power binoculars.<br />
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This is a stack of 7 x 8-minute exposures at ISO 800 with the Canon EOS Ra through the Borg 77mm f/4 astrograph, guided with the Lacerta MGEN-3 stand-alone autoguider and dithered, so no LENR or darks were employed. This was on the Mach1 mount. Star spikes added with Astronomy Tools Actions.
    Double Cluster and Stock 2 (Borg 77m...jpg
  • The famous Double Cluster (NGC 869, right and NGC 884, left) in Perseus, in a wide-field shot that incl;udes the large and sparse cluster Stock 2, aka the Muscle Man Cluster, is at top, looking here as if it outlined by a square border of stars. The field is filled with yellow supergiant stars. <br />
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This is a stack of 12 x 5-minute exposures with the SharpStar 76EDPH refractor with its reducer/flattener at f/4.5, and the Canon R5 at ISO 800. Autoguided with the MGENIII, on the Star Adventurer GTi mount taken as part of testing the mount. Taken from home October 1, 2022.
    Double Cluster & Stock 2 (SS76 R...jpg
  • The binocular double stars in Lyra: Delta Lyrae at lower left, Epsilon Lyrae at top centre, and Zeta Lyrae between Delta and bright blue Vega. Surrounding Delta Lyrae is the sparse star cluster Stephenson 1. Epsilon Lyrae is the Double Double as each of its two stars splits again into two stars at high power in a telescope. The small cluster at upper left is Sal 8, with an unnamed asterism above it. Taken in a clear sky lit by a waxing gibbous Moon, thus the blue sky background. The 7.5° x 5° field of view is close to that of binoculars. <br />
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This is a stack of 8 x 2-minute exposures at f/4.4 with the SharpStar 61mm EDPH refractor and Canon R6 at ISO 400.
    Epsilon, Delta and Zeta Lyrae in Moo...jpg
  • The asterism of the False Cross in Vela and Carina, at left, with Gamma Velorum, a bright blue supergiant star, at right. In between are faint arcs of nebulosity in the Gum Nebula. To the left of Gamma Velorum is the open star clister NGC 2547. Below the bottom star of the False Cross, Epsilon Carinae or Avior, is the large naked-eye star cluster NGC 2516. To the right of the right star of the False Cross, Delta Velorum, is the loose open cluster IC 2391. <br />
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This is a stack of 5 x 2.5-minute exposures with the 85mm Rokinon lens at f/2 and filter-modified Canon 5D MkII at ISO 2000, plus one exposure layered in taken through a Kenko Softon A filter to add the star glows. On the iOptron Sky-Tracker, from Tibuc Gardens Cottage at Coonabarabran, Australia.
    False Cross & Gamma Velorum (85m...jpg
  • The Milky Way in the region of the Galactic Centre in Sagittarius, photographed with it high in the sky from Australia. The actual centre of the Galaxy lies near centre of the frame. The dark clouds that form the Dark Horse and the Pipe Nebula are at right.<br />
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The clusters Messier 6 and Messier 7 are at bottom, with M7 lost in the star clouds of the Milky Way. <br />
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The Lagoon and Trifid Nebulas, M8 and M20, are at top. Saturn is the bright star at top right. The Dark Horse region of dark dust is at right, with the darkest part below being the Pipe Nebula, B78. The small Snake Nebula, B72, is at right.<br />
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This is a stack of 4 x 2-minute exposures at f/2.8 with the Rokinon 85mm lens, and filter-modified Canon 5D MkII at ISO 2500. Taken from Tibuc Gardens Cottage near Coonabarabran, Australia. <br />
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The image could be turned 90° CCW to better resemble its orientation in the sky in which it was photographed in the southern hemisphere, This orientation matches the view in the northern hemisphere. Some haze in one of the frames added the natural star glows.
    Galactic Centre and the Dark Horse (...jpg
  • The nebulosity around the central star of Cygnus, Gamma Cygni (aka Sadr), with the nebulosity generally taking the catalog name IC 1318, The bright open star cluster above Sadr is NGC 6910; the cluster at right, above centre, is IC 1311. The prominent patch of dark nebulosity at right, below centre, is B 343. Messier 29, M29, is at the bottom edge, left of centre. <br />
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This is a panoramic stitch of 2 segments, each a stack of 4 x 7-minute exposures at ISO 1600 with the filter-modified Canon 5D MkII, shooting through the TMB 92mm apo refractor at f/4.5 with the Borg 0.85 flattener/reducer. Stitched with Photoshop. Taken on a night with some high clouds, so some frames have haze, which adds the natural sky glows. Diffraction spikes added in post with Astronomy Tools Actions.
    Gamma Cygni Area Panorama.jpg
  • Gamma Velorum (aka Suhail al Muhlif) in Vela and the open cluster NGC 2547, a bright binocular cluster. The field is also rich in faint nebulosity from the Gum Nebula. The field simulates a binocular field. <br />
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A stack of 4 x 2-minute exposures with the 20mm telephoto at f/2.8 and Canon 5D MkII at ISO 2500. Tracked on the AP 400 mount. Shot from Coonabarabran, Australia.
    Gamma Velorum and NGC 2547 (200mm 5D...jpg
  • A framing of the northern winter sky constellation of Gemini. the Twins The Messier star cluster M35 is at right,, along with the emission nebulas IC 443 and NGC 2174. The twin stars of Castor (top) and Pollux are at left, but showing their colour difference here. The Milky Way runs down the right side of the frame making this area much brighter and richer than the sky at left. <br />
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This is a stack of 16 x 2-minute exposures with the Canon RF28-70mm lens at 61mm and f/2.8 and on the filter-modified Canon Ra camera at ISO 800, on the Star Adventurer tracker. Star glows added by layering in a separate 2-minute exposure taken through a Kase/Alyn Wallace StarGlow filter. Taken from home March 17, 2023.
    Gemini (60mm Ra).jpg
  • A framing of the northern winter sky constellations of Gemini (left), Auriga (top) and Taurus (bottom right). The Messier star clusters M35 in Gemini, and the trio of M36, M37 and M38 in Auriga show up well. The large nebula at upper right is NGC 1499, the California Nebula in Perseus. The Flaming Star, IC 405, and other IC nebulas in Auriga are right of centre. The small round nebula at bottom is IC 2174 in northern Orion. The dark lanes of the Taurus Dark Molecular Clouds are right of centre. Mars is just below centre in Taurus, adding an extra star to this already rich area of sky and matching Aldebaran for brightness and tint. <br />
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This is a stack of 12 x 2-minute exposures with the Canon RF28-70mm lens at 35mm and f/3.5 and on the filter-modified (by AstroGear) Canon R camera at ISO 800, on the Star Adventurer tracker. Taken from home March 16, 2023 with this area of sky in the southwest and plagued by some gradients, reduced with masks in Adobe Camera Raw and with Gradient XTerminator. Star glows added in post with Luminar Neo Magic Light extension.
    Gemini, Auriga & Taurus (35mm RM...jpg
  • The field of clusters and nebulosity in Gemini, with Messier 35 the main open star clusters here. Below M35 is NGC 2158. The nebulosity at left between Mu and Eta Geminorum is IC 443, a supernova remnant, aka the Jellyfish Nebula. The nebula at bottom is IC 2174, just over the border in Orion and aka the Monkeyhead Nebula.<br />
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The field is similar to that of binoculars. <br />
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This is a stack of 10 x 3-minute exposures with the filter-modified Canon 5D MkII at ISO 800 and 200mm Canon L-Series lens at f/2.8. Some light haze passing through in some exposures added the natural star glows. I left those in as part of the stack to add the glows. Taken with the Fornax Lightrack tracker as part of testing. Taken from home on a rare fine and mild winter night, January 4, 2019. Diffraction spikes added with Astronomy Tools.
    Gemini Clusters and Nebulas (200mm 5...jpg
  • This is a two-panel mosaic of nebulas and clusters in southern Gemini and northern Orion. <br />
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The Messier 35 star cluster is at top accompanied by the smaller cluster NGC 2158. At left near the orange star Eta Geminorum is the crescent-shaped Jellyfish Nebula, IC 443, a supernova remnant. The fainter, diffuse nebula at far left is IC 444. At bottom and over the border in Orion is the Monkeyhead Nebula, NGC 2174. The little round nebula above NGC 2174 is Sharpless 2-247.<br />
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This is a mosaic of two segments for the northern and southern halves of the scene, with each half being a stack of 6 x 8-minute exposures at ISO 800 with no filter, plus a stack layered in of 6 x 8-minute exposures at ISO 3200 with an Optolong L-Enhance filter to bring out the faint red nebulosity. So this is a stack and blend of a total of 24 exposures.  Alll were with the Canon EOS Ra camera on the SharpStar HNT150 Hyperbolic Newtonian astrograph at f/2.8.
    Gemini Nebulas Mosaic (HNT150 EOS Ra...jpg
  • This is a wide field image of the region of Perseus and Cassiopeia containing the bright Double Cluster at bottom left, and the large emission nebulas known as the Heart and Soul Nebulas at top. The Heart Nebula at right is IC 1805; the Soul Nebula (aka Embryo Nebula) at top left is IC 1848. The bright detached nebula at right is NGC 896.  Also in the image to the right of the Double Cluster is the large scattered star cluster, Stock 2, the Muscle Man Cluster, barely standing out from the Milky Way background here. The compact star cluster above the Double Cluster is NGC 957. Despite the poor sky conditions, the small, reddened Local Group galaxies, Maffei 1 and 2 are visible above centre amid the dark lanes of interstellar dust. <br />
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This is a stack of 9 x 8-minute exposures at ISO 1600 with the Canon EOS Ra through the William Optics RedCat 51mm f/4.9 astrograph. This was on the Sky-Watcher EQM-35 mount as a test of the combination, and guided with the ZWO ASIAir and ZWO guidescope, which worked fine until the cold killed the iPad (despite it being plugged in). Placing the iPad inside worked for a while but the weak WiFi from the ASIAir made the iPad lose the connection and revert to my home WiFi, again stopping the guiding. However, the small mount guided quite well when the autoguider worked!<br />
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Clouds were also coming and going and prevented more images and any taking through a nebula filter — these are all unfiltered. Some light cloud in some frames add the star glows, and so I added a mild Orton Effect with Luminar 4 to purposely add a further soft glow “look” to the image, and which also punches up the nebulosity.<br />
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North is to the top right here, in this image framed at an angle from the usual N-S, E-W orientation to take in the nebulas and clusters. The graduated scale on the RedCat’s camera angle adjuster helped in the framing. <br />
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Taken from home under duress (equipment and sky issues!) October 12, 2020. Indeed, I was surprised to get even these frames t
    Heart and Soul Nebulas and Double Cl...jpg
  • Hyades, and Aldebaran in the face of Taurus the bull, with smaller open cluster NGC 1647 at left. This is a stack of 4 x 4 minutes exposures with Canon 5D MkII camera at ISO 800 and 135mm lens at f/2.8, plus two exposures at the same settings but with Kenko Softon filter in place to add star glows.
    Hyades and NGC 1647 (135mm Bino Fiel...jpg
  • The large Hyades star cluster, at right, plus orange Aldebaran, and the smaller star cluster NGC 1647 at left, in Taurus, and in the moonlight of a first quarter Moon, January 2, 2020. Thus the blue sky. <br />
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This is a stack of eleven 2-minute exposures with the 200mm Canon lens at f/2.8 and Canon EOS Ra camera at ISO 400, with one of the exposures taken with haze in the sky to add the natural star glows. No filter was used here. The camera was on the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer tracker. Diffraction spikes added for aesthetic effect with Astronomy Tools Actions.
    Hyades and NGC 1647 Clusters (200mm ...jpg
  • The Hyades star cluster with orange Aldebaran taken in a moonlit sky and with light haze softening the stars and adding the haloes. The star cluster NGC 1647 is at upper left. The colourful double star Theta 1 and 2 Tauri is at lower centre.<br />
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This is a stack of 8 x 2-minute exposures at ISO 800 with the Canon R6, and the little Askar 230 astrograph at f/5.5. Autoguided with the MGEN3 guider. Diffraction spikes added with PhotoKemi StarTools actions.
    Hyades in Moonlight (FMA230 R6).jpg
  • The Hyades star cluster in Taurus with orange giant Aldebaran. The star cluster NGC 1647 is at upper left. The colourful double star Theta 1 and 2 Tauri is at lower centre.<br />
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This is a stack of 8 x 4-minute exposures at ISO 800 with the Canon R6, and the little Askar 230 astrograph at f/5.5. Autoguided and dithered with the MGEN3 guider. The last 4 exposures were taken January 20, 2022 with the waning Moon rising adding some blue tint to the sky, which is partly retained here. Diffraction spikes added with Astronomy Tools actions.
    Hyades Star Cluster (FMA230 R6).jpg
  • The Hyades star cluster, with bright yellow Aldebaran, in Taurus, with the smaller, more distant star cluster NGC 1647 at left. The field is similar to that of binoculars. <br />
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This is a stack of 5 x 2-minute exposures with the Canon 5D MkII at ISO 800 and 200mm Canon L-Series lens at f/2.8. An additional exposure taken through the Kenko Softon A filter is layered in to add the star glows to bring out their colours. Taken with the Fornax Lightrack tracker as part of testing. Taken from home on a rare fine and mild winter night, January 4, 2019. Diffraction spikes added with Astronomy Tools actions for artistic effect.
    Hyades with NGC 1647 Cluster (200mm ...jpg
  • IC 2391 open cluster. Taken with 77mm Borg refractor at f/4.3 and Hutech-modified Canon 5D camera at ISO 400 for stack of 3 x 6 minute exposures. Taken from Coonabarabran, NSW, April 17, 2007.
    IC 2391 (77mm 5D).jpg
  • IC 2391 Cluster in Vela. NGC 2669 to the left. Taken with 4-inch AP Traveler apo refractor at f/4.5 with Canon 20Da camera at ISO 800 for stack of 4 x 2 minute exposures. Taken from Coonabarabran
    IC 2391 in Vela (4in f4.5 20Da).jpg
  • The loose open star cluster IC 2391, aka the Omicron Velorum Cluster in Vela. The orientation is along the Milky Way here, so north is at right, not at top. This is a stack of five 2-minute exposures with the Canon L-series 135mm lens at f/2.8 and Canon 7D at ISO 1250. The field simulates a binocular field of roughly 7°.
    IC 2391 Omicron Velorum Cluster (Bin...jpg
  • IC 2395 Cluster in Vela. NGC 2670 to lower left. Taken with 4-inch AP Traveler apo refractor at f/4.5 with Canon 20Da camera at ISO 800 for stack of 4 x 2 minute exposures. Taken from Coonabarabran, NSW, March 26, 2007.
    IC 2395 in Vela (4in f4.5 20Da).jpg
  • The loose open star cluster IC 2395 in Vela near the Vela supernova remnant. The cluster is just left of centre. A small cluster just resolved here at centre is NGC 2660, while a sparser cluster left of IC 2395 is NGC 2670. The orientation is along the Milky Way here, so north is at right, not at top. This is a stack of five 2-minute exposures with the Canon L-series 135mm lens at f/2.8 and Canon 7D at ISO 1250. The field simulates a binocular field of roughly 7°. Bits of the Vela SNR are visible at right. The Pencil Nebula, NGC 2736, is just at the edge of the frame at top. The field is laced with emission nebulosity, some of it cyan in colour.
    IC 2395 in Vela (Bino Field) (135mm ...jpg
  • IC 2602 Southern Pleiades Cluster in Carina. Mel 101 at bottom. Taken with 4-inch AP Traveler apo refractor at f/4.5 with Canon 20Da camera at ISO 800 for stack of 4 x 3 minute exposures. Taken from Coonabarabran
    IC 2602 Southern Pleiades (4in f4.5 ...jpg
  • IC 2602 open cluster (Southern Pleiades), with 4-inch Astro-Physics Traveler apo refractor at f/6 and Canon 20Da at ISO800 for stack of two 2-minute exposures. Taken from Queensland, Australia, July 30, 2006.
    IC 2602 Southern Pleiades (4in f6 20...jpg
  • IC 2602 open cluster (Southern Pleiades), with 4-inch Astro-Physics Traveler apo refractor at f/6 and Canon 20Da at ISO800 for stack of two 2-minute exposures. Taken from Queensland, Australia, July 30, 2006.
    IC 2602 Southern Pleiades (4in f6 20...jpg
  • IC 2602 Southern Pleiades open cluster. Taken with 77mm Borg refractor at f/4.3 and Hutech-modified Canon 5D camera at ISO 400 for stack of 6 x 6 minute exposures. Taken from Coonabarabran, NSW, April 17, 2007.
    IC 2602 Southern Pleiades (77mm 5D).jpg
  • Southern Pleiades (IC 2602) area south of Carina Nebula. Open cluster Mel 101 below IC 2602 and IC 2714 cluster at upper left. Taken from San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, May 2011 with Canon 7D (unmodified) and 135mm Canon telephoto lens at f/2.8 for stack of 5 x 2 minute exposures at ISO 1250.
    IC 2602 Southern Pleiades (Bino Fiel...jpg
  • IC 443, a supernova remnant in Gemini (aka the Jellyfish Nebula) and associated nebulosity such as IC 444 and LDN 1565, plus the Messier open cluster M35 at right, with its companion cluster NGC 2158 below it. This is a stack of 12 images, with the TMB 92mm and Borg 0.85x flattener for f/4.7, and filter modified Canon 6D at ISO 800. 8 shots were 6 minutes and 4 shots were 8 minutes.
    IC 443 & M35 in Gemini (92mm 6D).jpg
  • Large and loose open cluster in Ophiuchus, IC 4665, in a wide-field image simulating the field of binoculars. Taken July 24, 2012, from home with the Canon 5D MkII at ISO 800 and Canon L-series 200mm lens at f/3.5 for a stack of 5 x 3 minute exposures.
    IC 4665 Cluster.jpg
  • Large and loose open cluster in Ophiuchus, IC 4665, in a wide-field image simulating the field of binoculars. Taken July 24, 2012, from home with the Canon 5D MkII at ISO 800 and Canon L-series 200mm lens at f/3.5 for a stack of 5 x 3 minute exposures.
    IC 4665 Cluster.jpg
  • The large and sparse open cluster in Ophiuchus called IC 4665, an object easy in binoculars. The star at centre is Celbalrai or Beta Ophiuchi. The 7.5 x 5° field is close to a binocular field of  view. <br />
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This is a stack of 9 x 4-minute exposures with the SharpStar 61mm apo refractor at f/4.5 and with the Canon R6 at ISO 800. Taken from home October 1, 2021 on a slightly hazy night with the field into the southwest.
    IC 4665 Cluster (SS61 R6).jpg
  • The sparse star cluster IC 4665 in Ophiuchus above the yellow star Cebalrai or Beta Ophiuchi. This is a big cluster best suited to observing with binoculars. <br />
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This is a stack of 4 x 5-minute exposures with the Canon Ra at ISO 800 on the SharpStar 61EDPH II refractor, on the Star Adventurer GTI mount, autoguided with the ZWO ASIAir. Taken from home September 25, 2022.
    IC4665 Cluster (SS61 Ra).jpg
  • IC 4665, the large and sparse open star cluster in Ophiuchus above the star Beta Ophuichi, aka Cebalrai. This cluster stands out well when scanning with binoculars, but is too large and sparse to be a good target for most telescopes. The telesphoto lens used here provides a field of view similar to binoculars. <br />
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This is a stack of 6 x 2-minute exposures with the 200mm lens at f/2.8 and Canon 6D MkII at ISO 800.
    IC 4665 in Ophiuchus (200mm 6DII).jpg
  • IC 4756 and NGC 6633 S-O Double Cluster, taken Aug 15, 2007 from home. Stack of 3 x 4 minute exposures at ISO800 with Canon 20Da and 135mm L-lens at f/2.8. Field equals 7° bino field. Slight trailing (not guided).
    IC 4756 & NGC 6633 S-O Double Cl...jpg
  • Jupiter in Taurus above Aldebaran and the Hyades and below the Pleiades, on January 4, 2013. Taken from home from the front yard, with the Sigma 50mm lens at f/2.8 and Canon 60Da camera at ISO 800 for 4 x 4 minutes + 2 x 3 minutes with the Kenko Softon filter for the star glows. Taken on the Kenko SkyMemo tracker. NGC 1647 and NGC 1746 clusters are also in the field, at left.
    Jupiter in Taurus (50mm 60Da).jpg
  • Jupiter in the Hyades cluster near Aldebaran in Taurus, over Timor Rock in Coonabarabran, Australia. Taken December 13, 2012. A stack of 2 x 4 minute exposures, at ISO 800 with Canon 5D MkII and Sigma 50mm lens at f/2.8. Haze added glows around Jupiter and star.
    Jupiter in Taurus over Timor Rock.jpg
  • Kemble’s Cascade and the star cluster NGC 1502 in Camelopardalis. The northern portion of the Cascade of stars is cut off at left here. The field includes the southern portion and the star cluster NGC 1502 at the south end of the chain of stars. Taken from home Nov. 25, 2016 with the 130mm AP f/6 apo refactor with the 6x7 field flattener and Canon 6D at ISO 800 for a stack of 4 x 6 minute exposures. Named for Father Lucien Kemble, an ardent deep-sky observer from Canada. Natural haze added some star glows, plus additional glows added with a Gaussian blur layer.
    Kembles Cascade and NGC 1502 (130mm ...jpg
  • The asterism known as Kemble’s Cascade, named for Canadian astronomer and Franciscan friar Father Lucien Kemble who first drew people’s attention to this interesting line of stars near the star cluster NGC 1502 at lower left. This is in Camelopardalis.<br />
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This is with the AM 106mm apo refractor at f/6 and Canon 6D MkII at ISO 1600 for a stack of 6 x 4 minutes exposures. A “glow” layer with a Luminar Orton glow effect adds the star glows, while a layer with the Astronomy Tools star spikes action adds the diffraction spikes. Taken from home Nov. 28, 2018.
    Kemble's Cascade in Camelopardalis (...jpg
  • Kemble's Cascade, running north to the upper right from NGC 1502 in lower left. <br />
January 2000, Home<br />
5-inch refractor at f/4.5<br />
Ektachrome 200 film<br />
Single 22 minute exposure<br />
Glow layer added and flattened
    Kembles Cascade NGC 1502 (5in f4.5).jpg
  • This is the asterism of stars known as Kemble's Cascade, named by Walter Scott Houston for Canadian amateur astronomer and Franciscan friar Father Lucien Kemble who popularized the stellar star chain. It is an obvious sight in binoculars or a telescope at low power but is off the beaten track in Camelopardalis. The star cluster NGC 1502 lies at the south end of the star chain. Below 1502 is a tiny vivid green dot, the planetary nebula NGC 1501. The field of view here is similar to that of binoculars.<br />
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This is a stack of 8 x 5-minute exposures with the SharpStar 61mm refractor at f/4.5 and Canon R6 at ISO 1600. Diffraction spikes added for artistuc effect with AstronomyTools actions.
    Kemble's Cascade (SS61 R6).jpg
  • A framing of the northern spring constellations of Leo (at right) and Coma Berenices (at left), the latter marked by the large star cluster Melotte 111. The small and obscure constellation of Leo Minor is at top right. <br />
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This is a stack of 10 x 2-minute exposures with the Canon RF28-70mm lens at 34mm and f/3.5 and on the filter-modified (by AstroGear) Canon R camera at ISO 800, on the Star Adventurer tracker. An additional single 2-minute exposure through a Kase/Alyn Wallace StarGlow filter and layered and blended in Photoshop added the photogenic star glows, to accentutate the constellation patterns and star colours. Taken from home March 16, 2023.
    Leo and Coma Berenices (35mm RMod).jpg
  • The rather obscure emission nebula catalogued as Sharpless 2-261, at top, but commonly known as Lower’s Nebula after the father and son team of amateur astronomers, Harold and Charles Lower, who in 1939 built an 8-inch Schmidt camera astrograph, one of the first, and used red sensitive plates and red filters to record these kinds of red nebulas. They noted this object on their plates, in northern Orion. They were certainly pioneers of this type of filtered astrophotography. <br />
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At bottom is the small star cluster NGC 2169, also known as the X-Y Cluster or Number 37 Cluster as its two clumps of stars, just resolved here, resemble those letters or numbers with a little imagination at the eyepiece.  <br />
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At bottom left is the small emission nebula Sh2-269.  The larger fainter patch above it is Sh2-267. The small nebula at the left edge might be Sh2-266 but charts are unclear and contradictory.<br />
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This is a stack of 5 x 8-minute exposures unfiltered at ISO 800 with a stack of 6 x 10-minute exposures at ISO 1600 shot through an Optolong L-Enhance filter to bring out the nebulas, all with the old Hutech filter-modified Canon 5D MkII DSLR and the SharpStar  HNT150 Hyperbolic Newtonian astrograph at f/2.8. What the Lowers would have given to have such technology in their day! <br />
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Taken with some haze in the sky toward the end of the shoot for the unfiltered shots, adding the star glows. Taken from home February 22, 2020.
    Lowers Nebula and NGC 2169 (HNT 5DII...jpg
  • NGC 663 (left of centre) and M103 (bottom right) open clusters in Cassiopeia. NGC 654 is at upper centre and NGC 659 bottom centre. Faint cluster IC 166 is at far left. Taken Nov 5, 2010 with 105mm A&M apo refractor at f/5 with Borg .85x flattener/reducer and Canon 5DMkII at ISO 800 for stack of 4 x 10 minute exposures, Median combined. Used Celestron CGEM mount and Sky-Watcher SynGuider on William Optics 66mm guidescope. All seemed to work well.
    M103 & NGC 663 (105mm 5DII).jpg
  • NGC 663 (left of centre) and M103 (bottom right) open clusters in Cassiopeia. NGC 654 is at upper centre and NGC 659 bottom centre. Faint cluster IC 166 is at far left. Taken Nov 5, 2010 with 105mm A&M apo refractor at f/5 with Borg .85x flattener/reducer and Canon 5DMkII at ISO 800 for stack of 4 x 10 minute exposures, Median combined. Used Celestron CGEM mount and Sky-Watcher SynGuider on William Optics 66mm guidescope. All seemed to work well.
    M103 & NGC 663 (105mm 5DII) with...jpg
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