At OkieTex 2024, I collected a few hours of image data on both a Globular and an Open Cluster. The Globular Cluster was M13, also known as the Hercules Globular Cluster. The Open Cluster was NGC225, which has many names, including: Sailboat, Igloo, Broken Heart, Lady’s Footstool, & Halloween Cat [1]. My integration time on these targets was limited, but Rod Gallagher’s post-processing methods helped. There is even a galaxy in M13 that I hadn’t expected to see. The Sailboat Asterism requires some creative imagination. I suspect that many people see a much larger boat than I can actually draw on my star masks.
The setup and image data are:
Camera: ZWO 183 MC Pro
OTA: 1608 mm AT8RC
Mount: Atlas EQ-G
Camera Gain: 111
Camera Temperature: -10C
Location: Camp Billy Joe
Processing: PixInsight and Adobe Photoshop
RGB Image Subs for the Hercules Globular Cluster:
Date: Sept 27 - Oct 3, 2024
9 x 60s
6 x 360 s
2 x 1800 s
Total Integration Time: 1.75 hours
HDR Multiscale Processing Was Used in PixInsight.
RGB Image Subs for the Sailboat Open Cluster:
Date: Sept 27 - Oct 3, 2024
6 x 10s
83 x 60s
5 x 360 s
Total Integration Time: 1.25 hours
GIF Animation Was Created by Adobe Photoshop