NGC457 in Cassiopia
Rich Splashy open cluster

 

            
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 There are
            few open clusters which have distinct nick names, and this is
            one of the finest. Known also as the "Owl Cluster"
            because of the two bright stars appear as eyes, and the rest
            of the cluster seems to resemble a bird with outstretched wings.
            Photographically, this image is a blast. The two brilliant super
            giant suns that dominate this object form a spectacular color
            contrast with the surrounding field. the brightest ruddy star
            is 5th magnitude and spectral type FOla, a very rare type with
            a B-V of .6 or so. The owls other eye is 7th magnitude and type
            B6 spectral class. Many fine K and M class stars can also be
            seen as orange objects in this field as well. The Owl cluster
            is 6.4th magnitude total and 13 arcminutes in size, with 80 known
            cluster members.

            
Careful examination
            of this image, taken with a 80% full moon in the sky one can
            compare the other objects in this field with the charts in Megastar.
            Four galaxies are found in this field, ranging in brightness
            from 15.5 magnitude to 17.5. All can be seen in the largest image
            buried amongst a very rich stellar background.


Optics:  8" f/4 Newtonian Astrograph w/Baader MPCC Coma Corrector
Platform:  Astrophysics AP1200  
Camera:  Hutech Modified Canon XTi @ ISO800
Exposure:  6 x 5m = 30 mins total
Location:  Payson, Arizona
Elevation:  5150 ft.
Sky:  Seeing  5/10, Transparency 9/10
Outside Temperature:  60F
Processing Tools:  Photoshop CS2, Images Plus 3.82
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