The Scutum Star Cloud 
Starcloud in Scutum the Shield 
Uploaded 9/20/24

The Scutum Star Cloud is certainly one of the most prominent and densest collections of stars in the Milky Way. Here, it occupies most of the center of this image which spans 3x2 degrees and appears as the finest star dust with gold and blue stars. On the left side is the magnificent star cluster M11, and on the right edge is the dark nebula Barnard 103.
Technical Data: 8" f/2 RASA, Baader UV/IR block filter, ASI2600 MC, 40 minutes exposure from Happy Jack, Az.
Select an image size for a larger view: 1400 x 1200
Instrument: RASA 8" f/2 Mount: Home Made GEM Camera: Color CMOS ASI2600 MC Guider: ASI mini w/80mm piggyback refractor Exposure: 40m ( 5 min subs) Location: Happy Jack, Arizona, Elevation: 7000 ft. Sky: Seeing FWHM = 2 arcsec , Transparency 9/10 Outside Temperature: 55 F Image Processing Tools: Maxim DL6: Calibration PixInsight: Alignment, Stacking, Star Removal Photoshop CS2: Curves, Color Correction, Cleanup HOME GALAXIES EMISSION NEBS REFLECTION NEBS COMETS GLOBULARS OPEN CLUST PLANETARIES LINKS