tomwildoner

Messier 46 Open Cluster

I was going through some imaging from earlier this year and found some images taken in February (Weatherly, Pennsylvania) of Messier 46 (M46). This final image...
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I was going through some imaging from earlier this year and found some images taken in February (Weatherly, Pennsylvania) of Messier 46 (M46). This final image is 8 x 60 seconds at ISO 1600 using a Canon T4i and 400mm lens. What I like with the M46 open cluster is that you get a bonus, the planetary nebula NGC 2438. While not part of the open cluster, it appears in the same view because it lines up behind the cluster. The planetary nebula was likely formed by the death of a red giant star in its center.
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