M35 and NGC2158
Open clusters in Gemini
Uploaded 5/22/24

 

            
Here is a rich Milkyway
            field centered on M35 in Gemini. But look closely at this image,
            and you will see the star colors are very well represented here.
            Here is a prime example of why you should be using the Arcsine
            stretch for star images. This non linear stretch when compared
            to a standard "histogram stretch" preserves star colors
            superbly and we can clearly see the spectral types for most of
            this dusty image. Note how the right hand side of the field has
            hordes of blue supergiants, and yet only reds and yellows appear
            on the left side. This of course is due to dust in the Milkyway
            absorbing blue light. If you havent tried the Arcsine stretch
            in PI, give it a try, and see what you have been missing!

            
Technical Data: M35,
            8" f/2 RASA, ASI071MC CMOS, 20 mins integration, Payson,
            Az.

            
Select an image size for a larger view:

1400 x 1200


Instrument:  RASA 8" f/2
Mount:  Ioptron GEM45
Camera:  Color CMOS OSC
Guider: ASI mini  w/80mm piggyback refractor
Exposure:  20m ( 5 min subs)
Location:  Payson, Arizona, Elevation:  5150 ft.
Sky:  Seeing FWHM = 2 arcsec , Transparency 9/10
Outside Temperature:  35 F

Image Processing Tools: 
Maxim DL6:  Calibration, Color Conversion, aligning, stacking
PixInsight:  Saturation Curves
Photoshop CS2:  Curves, Color Correction, Gradient removal (Grad Xterminator), Cleanup

HOME   GALAXIES     EMISSION NEBS     REFLECTION NEBS   COMETS  
   GLOBULARS     OPEN CLUST     PLANETARIES     LINKS