M46 M47 in Puppis

CLICK ON IMAGE FOR FULL SIZE VIEW (3200x2400)

Scope: FSQ-106N at f/5, Location: Blair Valley, Anza Borrego Desert, CA   17 February 2015  Camera: Atik 383L

Exposure: Exposure: 12 x 6 min  (1x1 bin) exposure with UV/IR block,  8 x 2 min (1x1 bin) RGB exposures.

Processing: Data Collection -  Sequence Generator Pro (as FITs).  Calibrated, stacked (Kappa Sigma Combine) Deep Sky Stacker, LRGB channel registration, equalization, and central gradient removal - Astroart.  Curves, Levels, RGB combine Images Plus. Luminance layering and finishing  - Photoshop. This image is a  LRGB combine with Luminance layering.  Color saturation in LAB color;    Final Image size is approximately 3200x2400.

North is up in this image. This field is the M46 / M47  Region in the constellation of Puppis. M46 is the cluster in the lower left; M47 is the cluster on the right with the large stars. In the uper right corner is a large sparse star cluster cataloged as NGC 2423 but also known as Melotte 70. The last cluster in this image is very small and in the lower portion of the image. It is cataloged as NGC 2425. Also in this field, which is generally considered an open cluster region, are two planetary nebulae. One, NGC 2438, is at the upper fringe of M46 and is well known in M46 images. but just above M46 is a lesser known and imaged planetary nebula, PN G231.4+04.3. These Planetary nebulae are best seen in the full size image  These objects are identified in the  annotated image.  Close up views  of M46 and M47 from other images are also viewable. M47 is about  1,598 light years distant from Earth. NGC 2425 cluster is a more distant 11,000 light years. M46 is  about 4,488 light years distant from Earth; the nearby planetary NGC 2438 is background to M46 at a distance of 9, 450 light years.  This image replaces an earlier image that can be seen in the Archives here.  Horizontal FOV is 120'.

Image center is approximately - Equatorial 2000: RA: 07h 39m 18s Dec: -14°23'32" 

All images and content remain the property of Jim Thommes - copyright 2003 - 2015 copyright 2003 - 2012

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