Messier 11 – Wild Duck Cluster
Observation Details
Location: Decatur, GA (33.7748° N, 84.2963° W)
Date: 2025-08-7
Time: 21:19 – 23:06 ET
Sky conditions: Seeing – Good, Transparency – Mag 4, Bortle 8
Instrument: Celestron C8, Optolong L-eNhance Filter, 0.63x SCT Corrector, ASI533MC Pro
Image capture details: 90x60s subs, 1 hour 30 minute integration
Software: ASIDeepStack, PixInsight, Photoshop
Trumpler Class: I 2 r
Description: Messier 11 is an incredibly rich and compact open cluster surrounded by the dense star field of the Milky Way. The cluster is made up of hundreds of mostly blue and white stars, with a few brighter yellow and orange stars scattered throughout. The brightest stars form a V-shape that resembles a flock of flying ducks, although this shape is much easier to see visually through an eyepiece than in my image. I especially like how the tightly packed blue and white stars of the cluster stand out against the warmer, golden stars surrounding it.
Messier 44 – Beehive Cluster
Observation Details
Location: Decatur, GA (33.7748° N, 84.2963° W)
Date: 2025-03-18
Time: 20:22 – 23:01 ET
Sky conditions: Seeing – Average, Transparency – Mag 4, Bortle 8
Instrument: SeeStar S50
Image capture details: 10s subs, 1 hour integration
Software: PixInsight, Photoshop
Trumpler Class: II 2 m
Description: Messier 44 is a large and loosely scattered open cluster with several bright stars that stand out across the cluster. The stars are spread out over a wide area, with a mix of blue-white, yellow, and orange stars that give the cluster a lot of color. I especially like the pairs and small groups of stars scattered throughout the cluster, which give it a very different appearance from more compact open clusters like Messier 11.
Messier 45 – Pleiades
Observation Details
Location: Decatur, GA (33.7748° N, 84.2963° W)
Date: 2025-11-28, 2025-12-13
Time: 19:52 – 23:00 ET, 18:39 – 22:43 ET
Sky conditions: Seeing – Good, Transparency – Mag 4, Bortle 8
Instrument: Seestar S50, Equatorial mode
Image capture details: 314 minute integration, 629x30s subs – mosaic
Software: PixInsight, Photoshop
Trumpler Class: I 3 r n
Description: Messier 45 is a large and loosely scattered open cluster dominated by several bright blue stars. The brightest stars form the familiar Pleiades pattern, while many fainter stars fill in the surrounding area. In my image, the bright blue stars really stand out against the darker background, along with the faint blue reflection nebulosity surrounding some of the brightest stars.
Messier 46
Observation Details
Location: Decatur, GA (33.7748° N, 84.2963° W)
Date and Time: 2025-02-02
Time: 22:32 – 23:34 ET
Sky conditions: Seeing – Average, Transparency – Mag 4, Bortle 8
Instrument: Apertura 60mm FPL-53 Doublet APO Refractor @ f/6 (native) – Aperture: 60mm, Focal Length: 360mm
Mount: Celestron Advanced VX
Eyepiece: N/A (Imaging)
Reticle Device: N/A
Imaging Equipment: ZWO ASI224MC, UV/IR cut filter, Apertura 32mm guide scope, ASI174MM-mini guide camera
Image type and sensor: ZWO ASI 224MC – CMOS, IMX224 1/3″ sensor
Image capture details: 60 minute integration, 60x60s, Gain – 100, Flats – 20, Darks – 30, Bias – 30
Software: PixInsight, Photoshop
Trumpler Class: II 2 r
Description: Messier 46 is a rich open cluster made up of hundreds of mostly faint, blue-white stars that are fairly evenly scattered throughout the cluster. One of the most interesting features is the small planetary nebula NGC 2438, which appears as a faint, round glow among the stars. Although it looks like it belongs to the cluster, NGC 2438 is actually a foreground object and is not physically associated with Messier 46.
Messier 48
Observation Details
Location: Decatur, GA (33.7748° N, 84.2963° W)
Date: 2025-03-12
Time: 20:14 – 21:34 ET
Sky conditions: Seeing – Average , Transparency – Mag 4
Instrument: Apertura 60mm FPL-53 Doublet APO Refractor @ f/6 (native) – Aperture: 60mm, Focal Length: 360mm
Mount: Celestron Advanced VX
Imaging Equipment: ASI174MM-mini guide camera, UV/IR cut filter, ZWO ASI678MC
Image type and sensor: ZWO ASI 678MC – CMOS, IMX678 1/1.8″ sensor
Image capture details: 78x60s subs, 1 hour and 18 minute integration, 30 each of flats, darks, and bias
Software: PixInsight, Photoshop
Trumpler Class: I 2 m
Description: Messier 48 is a large open cluster with a mix of bright and faint stars spread across the cluster. Several brighter blue-white stars stand out among the fainter members, along with a few warmer yellow and orange stars. The cluster has a loose, irregular appearance, with several small groups and patterns of stars that stand out throughout the field.
Messier 67 – King Cobra/Golden Eye Cluster
Observation Details
Location: Decatur, GA (33.7748° N, 84.2963° W)
Date: 2025-03-11
Time: 19:52 – 21:54 ET
Sky conditions: Seeing – Average, Transparency – Mag 4, Bortle 8
Instrument: Apertura 60mm FPL-53 Doublet APO Refractor @ f/6 (native) – Aperture: 60mm, Focal Length: 360mm
Mount: Celestron Advanced VX
Imaging Equipment: ASI174MM-mini guide camera, UV/IR cut filter, ZWO ASI678MC
Image type and sensor: ZWO ASI 678MC – CMOS, IMX678 1/1.8″ sensor
Image capture details: 120x60s subs, 2 hour integration, 20 each of flats, darks, and bias
Software: PixInsight, Photoshop
Trumpler Class: II 2 r
Description: Messier 67, also known as the King Cobra Cluster, is a rich open cluster with a dense concentration of stars toward the center that gradually becomes more scattered around the edges. The cluster contains mostly white and yellow stars, with several brighter orange stars that stand out throughout the field. I especially like the mix of colors and how the tightly packed center fades into the surrounding star field.
Project Objectives
Open Cluster Observing Program page: https://www.astroleague.org/open-cluster-observing-program/
Record the location (Latitude and Longitude), date and time, Seeing and Transparency, telescope aperture, power, and a brief description of the observed object, the Trumpler classification, and an image of any 100 (Silver Level) or 125 (Gold Level) and include the equipment and processing used for clusters from the lists.
Silver Level, Imaging:
- Image 100 of the open clusters on the provided lists.
- Classify all 100 of the imaged open clusters using the Trumpler classification system.
- All observing techniques may be used under the basic program, including go-to, computer-controlled, star-hopping, digital setting circles, imaging, etc.
Gold Level, Imaging:
- Image 125 of the open clusters on the provided lists.
- Classify all 125 of the imaged open clusters using the Trumpler classification system.
- All observing techniques may be used under the advanced program, including Go-To, computer-controlled, star-hopping, digital setting circles, imaging, remote telescopes, etc.