NGC 2548 (M48)
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 – strong central concentration, moderate range in brightness, and a medium-rich population of stars
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.
NGC 2632 (M44 – 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 – moderate central concentration, moderate range in brightness, and a medium-rich population of stars
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.
NGC 2682 (M67 – 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 – moderate central concentration, moderate range in brightness, and a rich population of stars
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.