The large, naked-eye star cluster that makes up most of the constellation of Coma Berenices, aka Mel 111. This is a wide view to simulate the field of binoculars. The galaxies NGC 4565 (left) and NGC 4559 (top left) are visible, as is NGC 4494 between the sliver-like NGC 4565 and the main star cluster. I shot this in deep twilight and retained some of the natural deep blue of the twilight from the earlier shots. The differences in star colours show up. The diffraction spikes are from the lens iris blades from being stopped down to f/4 from the maximum aperture of f/2.8. This is a stack of 7 exposures, each 4 minutes at f/4 with the 200mm Canon lens and Canon 6D MkII at ISO 800, unguided on the AP Mach 1 mount.
The trio of Messier galaxies, M98, M99, and M100 near the star 6 Comae Berenices along with fainter NGC galaxies. The face-on spiral M100 is at top right; the edge-on spiral M98 is at lower right; the face-on spiral M99, the Coma Pinwheel, is at bottom. The pair of galaxies to the left of M99 is NGC 4298 and NGC 4302. This is a stack of 7 x 5-minute exposures with the SharpStar HNT150 Hyperbolic Newtonian astrograph at f/2.8 and Canon EOS Ra camera at ISO 800.
Fall and winter Milky Way from Perseus at top right to Auriga and top of Orion at bottom left which includes the Taurus Dark Clouds and all of Auriga at left of centre. The California Nebula and Pleiades are at centre. This is a stack of 5 x 3 minute exposures at f/2.8 with the Canon 24mm lens and Canon 5D MkII at ISO 1600. Plus 2 x 3 minutes with the Kenko Softon filter for the star glows. Taken from Painted Pony Resort, New Mexico, December 3, 2013.
