The open star cluster NGC 188, in Cepheus, one of the oldest such objects known, with an estimated age of 9 billion years. NGC 188 has lasted so long as it is well above the plane of the Galaxy near the North Celestial Pole, and so free of the disruptive tidal effects of the Milky Way. This is a stack of 6 x 4-minute exposures with the AM 106mm refractor with the Hotech field flattener for f/6 and Canon 6D MkII at ISO 1600. Star glows added with Luminar and diffraction spikes added with Astronomy Tools
NGC 246 the Skull Nebula, a planetary nebula in Cetus. This is a stack of 5 x 6 minute exposures at ISO 800 with the filter-modified Canon 5D MkII and Astro-Physics 105mm Traveler apo refractor at f/5.8 with the 6x7 field flattener. Taken from Timor Cottage, Coonabarabran, Australia, Deceember 17/18, 2012. North is up.
NGC 247 the large edge on galaxy in Sculptor, above, with NGC 253 and NGC 288 below, in a shot with a 135mm telephoto lens to simulate the field with binoculars. This is a stack of 4 x 4 minute exposures at ISO 800 and f/2.8 with Canon 5D MkII. Taken from Coonabarabran, Australia, December 16, 2012.
