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octane2 — The Pleiades in Taurus
Published: 2006-10-25 16:05:36 +0000 UTC; Views: 22042; Favourites: 386; Downloads: 496
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Description
Full view for maximum effect.The Pleiades (M45) in Taurus
The Pleiades (Seven Sisters in Greek mythology) are the most famous of all the open star clusters. Approximately 500 stars adorn the black velvet sky. This first magnitude cluster is quite young and is easily visible to the naked eye. It somewhat resembles a smaller version of the Big Dipper. At least 6 hot blue stars are readily visible; those with trained eyes can see more.
Because of its large diameter (2 degrees), M45 is best seen in binoculars, or through a medium focal length telescope. A faint veil of nebulosity surrounds the brighest stars in the Pleiades, with the most easily seen patch being the Merope Nebula (IC 349), which surrounds the star Merope.
These reflection nebulae are not remnants of the gas cloud where the Pleiades were born, rather, they are just passing through interstellar dust and cloud.
The major stars which comprise the Pleiades have some beautiful names (Seven Sisters); Maia, Taygeta, Merope, Alcyone, Electra, Asterope and Celaeno.
In some ancient cultures, people would engage in ceremonies to honour the dead when the Pleiades had reached the highest point in the sky at midnight. Ancient Aztecs believed the Pleiades would be overhead at midnight the day the world would end.
This composite consists of one set of images; one set of 15 images taken at ISO-800.
Each individual image was a 240 second exposure.
IRIS was used to calibrate each image (dark subtraction [median combined master dark] and flat field division [median combined master flat {lights and darks}]), to register, align, and finally stack.
Photoshop CS2 was used to adjust levels, curves, saturation, colour balance, noise reduction, frame and resize the final composite.
Target: The Pleiades (M45) in Taurus
Date: Sunday, October 22nd, 2006
Time: First image: 02:45 AM
Time: Last image: 04:08 AM
Location: Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia
Camera: Canon EOS-350D
Telescope: Saxon ED80
Focal length: 600mm
Mount: Piggy-backed onto an 8" Meade LX90 LNT (F/10)
Autoguided: Through 8" Meade LX90 LNT (F/10)
Guider: Meade DSI-C
Alignment: Equatorial; via equatorial wedge
Exposure: 15 x 240 seconds @ ISO-800 (RAW)
Software: IRIS: Calibration, registration, stacking; Adobe Photoshop CS2: post-processing and framing
Related content
Comments: 180
I've never actually seen any submissions for this kind of work before. It's amazing how fast technology advances so that everyone is now able to capture a piece of the galaxy for themselves in the comfort of their own home/studio.
You had mentioned all the programs used to adjust and modify the picture to create this breathtaking effect here. I'm curious to see how the original looks in comparison to this result. Is the original as clear as this?
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I'm featuring this in my journal in a few minutes.
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Another great capture, isnt it funny how the light from stars comes off in 4 streams when u take a picture of them, and always at the same angle...
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chilledashel,
Thank you for the kind words.
The method I use to get the "streams" is to put fishing line across the front of the telescope in the shape of a cross. The light diffracts along the line and forms those diffraction spikes.
Regards,
H
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H,
I'm sorry for this late comment. I did comment previously but it doesn't seem to be here! Anyway mate. This is one of the best m45s I've seen. The nebula is fantastic. And the diffractions spikes really add nicely this object as always! I can't wait to get autoguiding like you do. Just tried with no joy 
Take it easy
Si
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Simon,
No need to apologise.
Thank you for the very kind words. I'm not entirely happy with the image due to the noise and slightly out-of-focus stars. I'll reshoot it when my new equipment arrives.
Regards,
H
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blueseas,
Thank you.
I'm glad you liked the image.
Regards,
H
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Very nice. You did a wonderful job of capturing the gas hanging around the group. Every time I shoot it, my camera filters out the gas as extra noise. So upsetting.
Great shot. The lesser stars are slightly drowned out by some extra noise in the image, but the fine detail in each of the greater stars makes up for it. And truly lovely color.
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gaelic,
Thank you.
What type of camera are you using?
I'm not entirely happy with this photograph, as I feel my focus lock wasn't set and over the course of the night, the focuser slid a little. I'm also not happy with the excess noise throughout. I will reshoot it once my new equipment arrives.
Regards,
H
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These are so gorgeous. You should visit the Northern Hemisphere sometime, I bet you could get some great shots of the stars here.
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AwkwardScience,
Thank you.
I would love to visit the northern hemisphere. I would spend so much time just on Andromeda!
Regards,
H
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And personally as a lover of biology, I dream of visiting the bizarre environments of the south-Pacific. XD
The perfect situation to missuse the word irony, eh?
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Hector42,
Glad you liked it.
Regards,
H
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Beautiful! Another one of your masterpieces...
Did you use any kind o filter for the "sparks" effect?
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MarshallLightbringer,
Thanks for the compliment.
The diffraction spikes are artificially created by placing fishing line across the front of the telescope in the shape of a cross. The light diffracts along the wire and hence gives the spark effect.
Regards,
H
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Thanks for your explanation. Very smart technique.
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I can see what appear to be 27 hot blue stars in your picture. I live out in the country, and can see the Big Dipper clearly. I can see other stars, but the atmosphere is still a little polluted, so what I can see is sometimes somewhat limited. I can see the Milky Way clearly some nights, and other times, not. Thank you for this beautiful picture! Please tell me what magnification the telescope you used is.
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PatGoltz,
I'm glad you liked the image.
I used an 80mm semi-apochromatic refractor telescope for this shot, which has a focal length of 600mm, and, therefore, a focal ratio of F/7.5.
Regards,
H
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Thank you! I'm not familiar with focal ratio. The only pictures I have taken of space have been of the moon. For those I used a camera with a 600mm Sigma mirror lens, sometimes with a multiplier. So it's like the telescope was in one unit, so to speak. The mirror lens is constructed a lot like a mirror telescope. I also don't know what "apochromatic" means. Wish I could afford the stuff I'd need to take pictures of nebulae. I am very fond of them. But all I have so far is a motor mount. I still need some kind of controller so I can aim it in the first place, and I need a tripod, and a couple of other things, I think. I don't know if my mirror lens would be sufficient for a nebula because I don't know if they're large enough. Getting any kind of respectable telescope is out of the question. One thing I may do is try to schedule a night at Kitt Peak. I understand they will allow people to do that, and that would be the perfect solution for me. It will cost a little bit, but it's a lot cheaper than any of the alternatives. I would also like to get a picture of Saturn.
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qsk0,
Thanks for the kind words.
Regards,
H
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Great picture as usual.
I love the comments you always put. It is amazing worry if i am hat you can do with this kind of SLR cameras. I'm sorry if i am being anoying but i would like to ask you from your exprince about Canon 20D and the new Canon XTi EOS 400. What is best you think for astrophotography? I did some rsearch and i think the 20D is be better but by how far? Thank you in advance.
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SolidAhmed,
Thanks for the compliment.
I would choose the Canon 20D over the 400D.
However, the 400D employs some new technology and has larger pixels on the sensor, if I'm not mistaken.
The 400D is also a lot lighter than the professional quality 20D.
If you're just starting out, go for the 400D.
Regards,
H
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Thanks a lot my man. after a lot of search and your advice i choosed the 400D and it is coming to me eather this friday or monday. Thanks again.
by the way do you know cloudynights.com forums. you might be intrested they have good folks and nice reviews
Ahmed
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SolidAhmed,
Sorry about the 2-year delay in replying.
How are you finding your 400D?
I bought a 5D Mark II and a modified 40D for astrophotography. I'm hoping to put it to good use very soon.
Yes, I know of CN; I post there every now and then, but, the traffic is just too high volume for me.
Regards,
H
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Gorgeous shot. The nebulous area adds interest to it as well.
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Katya,
Thanks for the compliment. Much appreciated.
Regards,
H
P.S. Still love your avatar.
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You're work is stunning each time... just phenomenal!
Have you ever read Carl Sagan's Contact? If you ever feel like it you should shoot "Vega star system in the constellation of Lyra" as the book states... It would please the nerd in me!
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shom,
Thank you for your most kind words.
I haven't read Contact. I'll look into it.
Lyra is unfortunately a bit too low for me to shoot.
Regards,
H
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Wow, that is one of the most amazing shots I have ever seen.
Do you happen to have a shot of Aquarius?
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sparkydawg,
Thanks for the compliment.
Is there anything in Aquarius in particular that you'd like to have a photograph taken of?
Regards,
H
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I haven't really looked into astrology in a while, but just the constellation itself would be awesome
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sparkygdawg,
I hate to be picky, but, you do mean astronomy, don't you?
Astronomy is the study of the heavens and all that they contain, whilst astrology is a fraud masquerading as a quasi-psuedoscience.
Regards,
H
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I did mean Astronomy, I always get them mixed up for some reason even though I love both. I guess I thought Astrology because of Aquarius - horoscopes.. ya know.. lol
But yes, Astronomy. Thanks for correcting me, very appreciated.
I would love to see anything to do with Aquarius, so the constellation itself or anything within it would bring me joy.
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Absolutely wonderful work, H! This is one of my favorite constellations as well, so of COURSE I had to look at it.
And also, it's just good to see some new work from you 
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Nicole,
Thank you for the compliment.
I liked my own image that much that I've made it my desktop background wallpaper.
You're too sweet.
Regards,
H
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I would love to just have an astrophotography book full of your photos.
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FiniteAnarchy,
I have a long way to go until that happens; my image processing skills leave a lot to be desired, but are constantly developing. In addition, I'm only producing one image per month, sometimes less. Then again, quality over quantity.
Thank you for the kind thoughts.
Regards,
H
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Sinensis,
Thank you for the kind words.
I'm sure you'll appreciate my next image when it's ready.
Regards,
H
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