The large winding constellation of Hydra the serpent at right, below Leo the lion rising in the east from Arizona on a mid-December evening. Cancer is at top. All three constellations are related to Hercules as all are creatures Hercules had to defeat as part of his “Labours.” The star cluster M44, the Beehive, is at top in Cancer. This is a stack of 2 x 2-minute exposures with the 35mm lens at f/2.5 and Canon 5D MkII at ISO 1600, with an additional exposure through the Kenko Softon filter layered in to add the star glows. Bands of airglow add the colouration to the sky toward the horizon.
The constellation of Leo and the Coma Berenices star cluster (at left) aka Mel 111. Taken from New Mexico, March 2013, with the 50mm Sigma lens at f/4 and Canon 5D MkII at ISO 800 for a stack of 5 x 7 minute exposures + 2 exposures taken through the Kenko Softon filter for the star glows. The slight brightening at bottom is from Gegenschein.
