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This
            magnificent field is centered on the large open cluster Mel 15,
            also known as CR26 in Cassiopeia. This is the cluster in the
            center of the giant "Heart Nebula". The cluster is
            a bright 6.5 magnitude, and 25 arcminutes in size. 40 cluster
            members are listed in this splashy group. Enveloping this gem
            is the large nebulosity IC1805. The real attraction here is the
            nebulosity contains abundant dark nebula and bright shock front
            details in the vicinity of this cluster and makes for a very
            dynamic field. Also note the color change across the nebula.
            The core is more pinkish than the redder outlying nebulosity.
            For a wide field image of the area, click here.
Instrument:  12.5" f/5 Home made Newtonian
Mount:  Astrophysics 1200 QMD
CCD Camera:  SBIG 10XME NABG with Enhanced Water Cooling
Guider: Meade DSI Pro  w/Lumicon Newt Easy Guider
Exposure:  Ha^RGB = 90:20:20:20 
AstroDon RGB Combine Ratio:  1: 1.05: 1.2
Location:  Payson, Arizona, Elevation:  5150 ft.
Sky:  Seeing FWHM = 8 arcsec (Maxim DL - 10min subframe), Transparency 7/10
Outside Temperature:  35 F
CCD Temperature:  -30 C
Image Processing Tools: 
Maxim DL:  Calibration, deblooming (Starizona Debloomer), aligning, stacking
Gralaks Sigma:  Stacking
PixInsight:  Curves, Deconvolution, noise reduction
Photoshop CS2:  Curves, Color Correction, Gradient removal (Grad Xterminator), Cleanup

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