Russell Croman Astrophotography  

 

 

The Merope Nebula


About This Photograph

The brilliant star Merope is one of the members of the Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters, a cluster of young, hot stars about 400 light years from earth. Intense bluish light from Merope illuminates wisps of cosmic dust which appear to swaddle the young stars in blankets of nebulosity.

For a wider view of the entire Pleiades and surrounding area, click here.

 

Technical Details

Optics:20" f/8 RCOS Ritchey-Chrétien Cassegrain w/ Field Corrector.
Camera:SBIG STL-11000M.
Mount:Software Bisque Paramount ME.
Filters:SBIG Standard RGB.
Dates/Times:7 January 2005.
Location:Dimension Point Observatory, Mayhill, New Mexico.
Exposure Details:RGB = 45:45:45 minutes (15-minute individual exposures).
Acquisition:MaxIm DL/CCD 4, TheSky6, CCDAutoPilot2.
Processing:MaxIm DL/CCD 4, Photoshop CS.