The constellation of Serpens, the east segment known as Serpens Cauda (its tail) in the northern summer sky, with parts of Ophiuchus at right and Scutum at left. The Serpens-Ophiuchus Double Cluster is at left, made of NGC 6633 (right) and IC 4756 (left). The binocular cluster IC 4665 is above greenish Beta Ophiuchi (Cebalrai) at centre. Blue Rasalhague and orange Rasalgethi are at top right. To the left (east) of Cebalrai at centre is the V-shaped asterism known as Taurus Poniatowski or the “Little Bull,” a group that resembles the Hyades in Taurus. The group was named for the King of Poland, Stanislaus Poniatowski in 1777 by Marcin Poczobutt. The constellation pattern was never accepted but the asterism, now in Ophiuchus, is a fine one for binoculars. This is a stack of 4 x 1-minute exposures with the 50mm Sigma lens at f/2.8 and Canon 6D at ISO 1600, plus an additional 1 min exposure through the Kenko Softon filter to add the star glows. All tracked on the MSM SiFo Tracker from China. Taken from home July 24, 2019.
The multiple star Sigma Orionis just right of centre, near the Horsehead Nebula in Orion, and with the Flame Nebula, NGC 2024, above. This is a stack of 8 x 5 minute exposures with thr 130mm Astro-Physics refractor at f/6 with the Canon 6D (not modified) at ISO 1600, plus a single 1-minute exposure added in for the bright stars to prevent them from being blown out too much. Even the long exposures were kept short so as not to overexpose the star too much — the focus was on the stars not on going deep to bring out the faint nebulosity. Shot Feb 17, 2017 from home. Some light cloud added glows to the stars.
The southern Milky Way from Canis Major to Carina, including Puppis and Vela and the large Gum Nebula complex, an interstellar bubble blown by stellar winds. Sirius at at right and Canopus at lower left. The open cluster NGC 251t6 is at far left. M41 cluster is left of Sirius. This is a stack of 4 x 2 minute exposures at f/2.8 with the 35mm Canon L-series prime lens and filter-modified Canon 5D Mark II at ISO 1600. A pair of stacked exposures taken through the Kenko Softon filter added the star glows. Taken from near Coonabarabran, Australia, April 2014.
