A framing of some of the main open star clusters in eastern Cassiopeia, including: NGC 663 at lower left and NGC 457 at upper right. NGC 457 is known as the Owl or ET Cluster. Above NGC 457 is smaller NGC 436 and above NGC 663 is smaller NGC 654. To the right of NGC 663 is NGC 659. Between NGC 663 and the bright blue star Ruchbah is Messier 103. The yellowed cluster in the extreme lower left corner is Be 6. This is a stack of 20 x 5-minute exposures with the SharpStar 76mm EDPH with its f/4.5 reducer/flattener, and the Canon R5 at ISO 800, on the Star Adventurer GTi mount, autoguided with the Lacerta MGEN3. No filters were employed.
This is a wide shot encompassing the constellation of Cassiopeia the Queen in the northern autumn sky, showing the variety of colours in the starclouds and nebulas that populate this section of the Milky Way. The colours are brought out by the long exposure used and by contrast enhancements in processing. But yes, they are real! This is not false colour. The pink emission nebulas of the Heart and Soul Nebulas (IC 1848 and IC 1805 respectively), at left, and the NGC 7822/Ced 214 complex, at top, dominate. The small pink patch at bottom is the Pacman Nebula, NGC 281. At upper right are the faint nebulas around the star cluster M52, including the Bubble Nebula, NGC 7635. The purple glows near the star Gamma Cassiopeiae, aka Navi, at centre are the reflection nebulas IC 59 and IC 63. Lots of star clusters populate the area, including the Double Cluster in Perseus at lower left, and NGC 7789, Caroline's Rose, at right. NGC 663 and NGC 457 are the star clusters below the left side of the W that marks Cassiopeia. This is a stack of 14 x 2-minute exposures with the Canon RF 28-70mm lens at 62mm and f/2.5 on the Canon EOS Ra at ISO 1600, and on the Star Adventurer Mini tracker. The lens had a URTH Night filter on it to reduce light pollution and airglow discolouration. Taken from home October 1, 2021 on a night with some loss of transparency due to haze. Nebulosity was brought out with the aid of luminosity and colour range masks created with Lumenzia. An additional exposure through an Alyn Wallace/Kase Starglow filter layered in adds the subtle star glows to make the "W" stars pop. All stacking, alignment and blending done in Photoshop.
The starfield in eastern Cassiopeia containing an abundance of open star clusters. The most prominent is NGC 663, aka the Letter S Cluster, at bottom. Above it is NGC 654; to its right is NGC 659. At centre is Messier 103. At far right is NGC 457, the ET or Owl Cluster. Above it is NGC 463. The star at far left is Epsilon Cass; the star at right of centre is Delta Cas, aka Ruchba. The 7.5 x 5° field is close to a binocular field of view. This is a stack of 15 x 4-minute exposures with the SharpStar 61mm apo refractor at f/4.5 and with the Canon R6 at ISO 800. Taken from home Oct. 1, 2021. Diffraction spikes added with Astronomy Tools actions.
