M45 - The Pleiades

 

     The Pleiades is a constellation made up of a bright open star cluster easily visible in the winter sky 380 light years away.  Also named the Seven Sisters, this cluster's brightest central stars are shrouded in gas clouds that reflect the brilliant blue starlight.  Hints of this nebulosity are seen in larger telescopes visually.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Optics Camera ISO Exposure Mount/Guiding Processing Location Date
TEC 140 @ f5.2 Modified Canon Rebel XT (350D); Type 1a filter 800 10 x 10 min G11/ST4 guided Dark frame subtracted, registered & stacked in Registar; Levels/Curves in PS 7 Cottonwood Springs , CA 9/23/06

Comments:  Average to poor seeing.  Looked like some smoke to the north possibly from recent southern California fires.  Very light wind.