M45 Pleiades Star Cluster 07-Oct-24

Target: M45 Pleiades Star Cluster

The Pleiades is also known as the Seven Sisters. It is dominated by hot blue luminous stars that have formed within the last 100 million years. It is in the Taurus constellation approximately 400-450 light years from Earth. I shot this cluster 3 years ago using a Canon EOS-R and Sigma telephoto lens

 

Gear:

Mount: ZWO AM5

Main Cam: ZWO ASI294MC Pro @ gain 121 and 8F

Guide Cam: ZWO ASI120MM Mini with ZWO 30mm f/4 scope

Telescope: Askar 103APO w/ 0.8x reducer/flattener - 420mm f/4

Filter: Baader Moon and Sky-glow Broadband light pollution

 

Acquisition:

Light frames: 120 2 minute subs for 4hr integration

Sessions: 06-Oct-2024

Moon: 3 days old 11% below horizon

Location: SW Columbus, TX - Bortle 3/4

 

Processing

• Pixinsight Auto DBE, BTX, STX

• Pixinsight Statistical stretch

• Pixinsight HT black point color balance, Saturation Curves

• Pixinsight Stretch Stars using - Star stretch

• Photoshop ACR contrast, black point, clarity, de-haze

• Photoshop Selective Colors, ACR, channel D&B to balance colors

• Photoshop Screen stars, duplicate layer/black mask/reveal select stars

• Photoshop Final curves, watermark

Done