Deep Double Cluster in Perseus
with 10" f/3.9 Astrograph
Uploaded 1/29/26

 

            
An extremely deep shot
            of the Double Cluster in Perseus, NGC869-884. Many nights were
            spent on collecting 15 hours of data here, and the reward was
            a beautiful red wall of hydrogen nebulosity at the bottom (south)
            end of the frame. This rich assemblage of golden and saphire
            blue supergiant suns combined with the glowing embers of hydrogen
            gas in the same image forms this dazzling portrait of one of
            the Milky Ways finest gems.

            
The included wider field
            "context image" taken simultaneously reveals that the
            entire region is filled with faint tendrills of glowing red hydrogen,
            a feature virtually never seen in amateur images.

            
Technical Data: 10"
            f/3.9 Newtonian astrograph, Atik 16200 CCD, LRGB = 15 hours HaRGB
            total, Payson, Az.

            
Taken with 10 inch f/3.9

Select an image size for a larger view:

1600 x 1290



            
Taken with MiniCat 51 f/3.5

Select an image size for a larger view:

1600 x 1290


Instrument:  10" f/3.9 Orion Astrograph Newtonian with Baader MPCC
Mount:  Astrophysics 1200 QMD
CCD Camera:  ATIK 16200 
Guider: ASI290  w/80mm WO Zenithstar 81 piggyback refractor
Exposure:  15 hours HaRGB
Astronomik  RGB Combine Ratio:  1: 1.05: 1.5
Location:  Payson, Arizona, Elevation:  5150 ft.
Sky:  Seeing FWHM = 3 arcsec , Transparency 9/10
Outside Temperature:  5 F
CCD Temperature:  -30 C

Technical Data MiniCat51 Context Astrograph:
Subject: Double Cluster Context wide field
Date: 1/28/26 (Simultaneously with 10")
Scope: MiniCat 51mm f/3.5 astrograph
Camera: ASI2600 MC
Integration: 15 Hours total integration

Image Processing Tools: 
Maxim DL6:  Calibration, PixInsight:  All Remaining processing, Photoshop CS2: Production finishing 

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