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M45 Pleiades in Taurus

 

CLICK ON IMAGE FOR FULL SIZE VIEW (2800x2100)

Scope: FSQ-106N at f/5, Location:  DAA Observatory, Shelter Valley, CA,   3 November 2016  Camera: Atik 383 (Astronomik Gen II  LRGB filters)

Exposure: Exposure: 14 x 15 min, (1x1 bin) exposure  and 8 x 4 min exposure with UV/IR block,  8 x 4 min (2x2 bin) RGB exposures.

Processing: Data Collection -  Sequence Generator Pro (as FITs).  Calibrated, stacked (Kappa Sigma Combine) Deep Sky Stacker. LRGB channel registration and equalization, rough color calibration - Astroart.  Curves, Levels, RGB combine Images Plus. Luminance layering and finishing  - Photoshop. This image is an LRGB combine with Luminance layering. Final color calibration - eXcalibrator. The Luminance construction was the 15 minute Luminance exposure stack with the 4 minute exposure stack used to control star bloat. Color saturation in LAB color.    Native image size - 3354x2529.  Final Image size is approximately 2800x2100.

North is up in this image. This field lies within the constellation of Taurus;  and in this constellation lies the very popularly imaged M45 Pleiades Star Cluster. The field is dominated by the cluster itself - it is a well studied and cataloged region. M45 itself is also known as LBN 772 and LBN770 and also Melotte 22. Within the star cluster are two named nebulae - the Maia Nebula (NGC 1432) and the Merope Nebula (NGC 1435) - named after two of the seven daughters of Atlas and Pleione; Maia being the eldest and Merope the youngest. This region is also part of the Cederblad 19 InterStellar Matter (ISM) object. Cederblad 19  has 22 subparts several of which are in this image's field. The TGU 1128 Dark Cloud is also in this field as is a background galaxy, UGC 02838. These objects  and some of the bright stars are identified in the annotated image.  M45 is about 450 to 490 light years distant from Earth. The galaxy, UGC  02838, is about 300 million light years distant. 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: 03h 47m 00s Dec: +24°07'00"

 

All images and content remain the property of Jim Thommes - copyright 2003 - 2016 copyright 2003 - 2012

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