This is the rich region of clusters and nebulosity in the constellation of Gemini, with the Jellyfish Nebula, IC 443 at bottom near the orange star eta Geminorum. IC 443 is a supernova remnant. The larger region of fainter, diffuse nebulosity at left is IC 444. The loose star cluster embedded in it, with the blue star 12 Gem, is Collinder 89. At top right is the bright showpiece open star cluster Messier 35 with its smaller, more distant companion cluster NGC 2158 at lower right from M35. This is a blend of 8 x 5-minute exposures at ISO 800 unfiltered with 6 x 10-minute exposures at ISO 1600 shot through an Optolong L-Enhance dual-band nebula enhancement filter (it lets through only Oxygen III blue-green and Hydrogen-alpha red to really enhance the nebulosity). All exposures with the Canon EOS Ra mirrorless camera through the SharpStar HNT150 Hyperbolic Newtonian Astrograph at f/2.8, from home on a very clear moonless night January 27, 2020. All stacked, aligned and blended in Photoshop 2020.
The Jellyfish Nebula, IC 443, at left near the star Eta Geminorum at left. IC 443 is a supernova remnant. At upper ight is the bright open star cluster Messier 35. The smaller and fainter star cluster below M35 is NGC 2158. M35 is 2500 light years away but NGC 2158 is 16,500 light years away. This is a stack of 10 x 6-minute exposures with the 92mm TMB apo refractor at f4/4 with the Borg 0.85x field flattener/reducer and the filter modified Canon 5D MkII at ISO 800. Taken from New Mexico.
A collection of bright star clusters and colourful nebulas in central Auriga. Messier 36, aka the Pinwheel Cluster, is at far left. Messier 38, aka the Starfish Cluster, is at top left, with the small cluster NGC 1907 below it. The large nebula at right is IC 405, the Flaming Star Nebula surrounding and extending from the star AE Aurigae. The part of the nebula around the star is blue reflection nebulosity. The large nebula at bottom is IC 410 surrounding a loose star cluster NGC 1893. The small nebula left of centre is IC 417. The smaller nebula between IC 417 and Messier 36 is NGC 1931. The colourful group of stars between IC 405 and 410 at right is the Little Fish asterism. This is a stack of 8 x 8-minute exposures through the Borg 77mm f/4 astrograph and with the Canon EOS Ra red-sensitive mirrorless camera, at ISO 800. Stacked, aligned and processed in Adobe Camera Raw and Photoshop 2020. No nebula or light pollution reduction filter was employed in taking the images. I shot this from home November 25, 2019 on a very fine if frosty autumn night. The Dew Destroyer heater coil from David Lane wrapped around the front objective nicely kept off the frost. As the temperature was -10° C, I did not employ Long Exposure Noise Reduction or take and apply dark frames.
