2025 Sept. 19 ~ Messier 11 (the Wild Duck Cluster)
***************************************************************************
Photographed at Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada
(280 km by road north of Toronto)
between 23.37 and 23.55 EDT
* Altitude of centre of frame at time of exposures: 21°, declining to 18°
* Temperature 8° C.
* Total exposure time: 9 minutes
* 1253 mm focal length telescope
___________________________________________
Description:
This large, pretty and bright open cluster of stars - which happens to lie in our line of sight in front of one of the bright and star-dense arms of our Milky Way galaxy - is a favourite observational target of northern hemisphere astronomers on summer evenings.
From Wikipedia:
"The Wild Duck Cluster is one of the richest and most compact of the known open clusters, containing about 2900 stars. Its age has been estimated to about 250 million years. Its name derives from the brighter stars forming a triangle which could resemble a flying flock of ducks (or, from other angles, one swimming duck)."
For a wider angle view of the region of Scutum surrounding M11, made with a 660 mm focal length telescope in mid-twilight at the end of July 2025, click here:
www.flickr.com/photos/97587627@N06/54798079353
For a version of this photo WITH LABELS and more information about M11, click on your screen to the RIGHT of the photo, or click here:
www.flickr.com/photos/97587627@N06/54802648754
___________________________________________
Technical information:
Nikon D810a camera body on Explore Scientific 152 mm (6") apochromatic refracting telescope, mounted on a Sky-Watcher EQ6-R PRO SynScan mount
Nine stacked subframes; each frame:
ISO 8000; 1 minute exposure at f/8; 1253 mm focal length
(with LENR - long exposure noise reduction)
Subframes stacked in RegiStar;
Processed in Photoshop CS6 (brightness, contrast, levels, colour balance, slight sharpening
***************************************************************************
2025 Sept. 19 ~ Messier 11 (the Wild Duck Cluster)
***************************************************************************
Photographed at Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada
(280 km by road north of Toronto)
between 23.37 and 23.55 EDT
* Altitude of centre of frame at time of exposures: 21°, declining to 18°
* Temperature 8° C.
* Total exposure time: 9 minutes
* 1253 mm focal length telescope
___________________________________________
Description:
This large, pretty and bright open cluster of stars - which happens to lie in our line of sight in front of one of the bright and star-dense arms of our Milky Way galaxy - is a favourite observational target of northern hemisphere astronomers on summer evenings.
From Wikipedia:
"The Wild Duck Cluster is one of the richest and most compact of the known open clusters, containing about 2900 stars. Its age has been estimated to about 250 million years. Its name derives from the brighter stars forming a triangle which could resemble a flying flock of ducks (or, from other angles, one swimming duck)."
For a wider angle view of the region of Scutum surrounding M11, made with a 660 mm focal length telescope in mid-twilight at the end of July 2025, click here:
www.flickr.com/photos/97587627@N06/54798079353
For a version of this photo WITH LABELS and more information about M11, click on your screen to the RIGHT of the photo, or click here:
www.flickr.com/photos/97587627@N06/54802648754
___________________________________________
Technical information:
Nikon D810a camera body on Explore Scientific 152 mm (6") apochromatic refracting telescope, mounted on a Sky-Watcher EQ6-R PRO SynScan mount
Nine stacked subframes; each frame:
ISO 8000; 1 minute exposure at f/8; 1253 mm focal length
(with LENR - long exposure noise reduction)
Subframes stacked in RegiStar;
Processed in Photoshop CS6 (brightness, contrast, levels, colour balance, slight sharpening
***************************************************************************