Kwychang
M35 & NGC 2158
Number 35 in the Messier catalogue, number 2168 in the New General Catalogue.
A quite beautiful open star cluster in the constellation of gemini. At 2,700 light years away it is filled with young hot blue stars, leading to estimates at the age of the cluster to be around 150 million years. Over 500 massive stars spread out amongst 2,500 stars, stretching over just 24 light years.
In stark contrast is the open star cluster NGC 2158 in the lower right corner. Much further away at over 14,000 light years, it appears much more condensed. The lack of any large hot blue stars gives away the fact that it is also much older at an estimated 2 billion years.
Boring techie bit:
Skywatcher Quattro 8" Newtonian Reflector steel tube with the f4 aplanatic coma corrector, Skywatcher EQ6 R pro mount, Altair Starwave 50mm guide scope, ZWO asi120mm guide camera mini, ZWO asi533mc pro cooled to -10c, ZWO asiair plus.
300 seconds at 0 gain.
Stacked with DeepSkyStacker and processed in StarTools.
M35 & NGC 2158
Number 35 in the Messier catalogue, number 2168 in the New General Catalogue.
A quite beautiful open star cluster in the constellation of gemini. At 2,700 light years away it is filled with young hot blue stars, leading to estimates at the age of the cluster to be around 150 million years. Over 500 massive stars spread out amongst 2,500 stars, stretching over just 24 light years.
In stark contrast is the open star cluster NGC 2158 in the lower right corner. Much further away at over 14,000 light years, it appears much more condensed. The lack of any large hot blue stars gives away the fact that it is also much older at an estimated 2 billion years.
Boring techie bit:
Skywatcher Quattro 8" Newtonian Reflector steel tube with the f4 aplanatic coma corrector, Skywatcher EQ6 R pro mount, Altair Starwave 50mm guide scope, ZWO asi120mm guide camera mini, ZWO asi533mc pro cooled to -10c, ZWO asiair plus.
300 seconds at 0 gain.
Stacked with DeepSkyStacker and processed in StarTools.