M36 - Open Star Cluster in Auriga
Copyright 2007 Hap Griffin
M36 is the first of three bright open star clusters in the constellation of Auriga (the others being M37 and M38). This young cluster, at the age of 25 million years, consists of 60 members and lies at a distance of 4100 light years.
Date/Location:
December 17, 2007 Griffin/Hunter II Observatory Bethune, SC
Instrument: Canon 40D (modified IR filtering) Digital SLR through
10" Newtonian w/MPCC
Focal Ratio: f/ 4.7
Guiding: SBIG ST-237 through Orion ED80
Conditions: Cold and clear
Weather: 25 F
Exposure: 21 minutes total (21 x 1 minute @ ISO 800)
Filters: Baader UV/IR block internal to camera
Processing: Focused and captured, RAW to TIFF conversion,
flat frame calibration, Digital Development, resizing and JPEG conversion in ImagesPlus.
Final tweaking in Photoshop
CS2.