Open Cluster in Perseus

This bright open cluster is a nice object for binoculars or a small telescope. The cluster contains about 60 stars, including 10 or 15 fairly bright ones. Most of the dimmer stars in this image are part of the Milky Way background.

Taking a picutre of even a familar celestial object can result in something unexpected. In the case, I was surprised to see several tiny (therefore very distant) galaxies scattered throughout the image. They are dm and hard to find, but one is near the lower right corner, and two more are just to the right of bright stars near the bottom center of the image. There are other galaxies in the image as well.

Image details:  16 images, each 90 seconds at ISO 1600, taken with a Canon 400D camera through a Meade 12” telescope at f/6.8.

January 2011