M46 Open Cluster in Puppis
with NGC2438 and M1-18 Planetary Nebula
Orion 8" f/4 Astrograph

Uploaded 4/6/19

 
 This
            amazing rich cluster in Puppis lies moderately high just past
            the meridian on April evenings, and offers astro imagers a fine
            target to test their optics, and tracking skills on. The cluster
            contains not only a rich assortment of gold and blue stars, the
            10th magnitude planetary NGC2438 is also contained in this cluster,
            seen here just above center. At the top center is another red
            ring planetary nebula, Minkowski 1-18. This 14th magnitude gem
            has always been just outside the field on shots with my 12.5"
            and 10" newtonians. The wide field of the 8" f/3.8
            Astrograph records it well!

Click on thumbnails for a larger image:

            
A conventinal presentation showing the cluster
in a rich starry Winter Milkyway field.

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a larger view:

1400 x 1200

            
Here I have labeled the two planetary nebula and 
enclosed them is small boxes.

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a larger view:

1400 x 1200



Optics:  8" f/3.9 Newtonian Astrograph w/Baader MPCC Coma Corrector
Platform:  Homemade GEM with Byers Starmaster Drive 
Camera:  Hutech Modified Canon XTi @ ISO800
Exposure:  3x 5m
Location:  Happy Jack, Arizona
Elevation:  6850 ft.
Sky:  Seeing  8/10, Transparency 9/10
Outside Temperature:  35F
Processing Tools:  Photoshop CS2, Images Plus 3.82
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