The Milky Way through the Perseus to Auriga area, populated by clusters and nebulas of the next spiral arm out from ours, in the Perseus Arm. The Double Cluster is at right, with the Heart and Soul Nebulas above it, while the Auriga clusters and nebulas are at left. At bottom is the California Nebula and Messier 34 cluster. The Perseus OB Association of hot blue stars is at centre. Capella is the bright star at upper left. The Taurus Dark Clouds are at lower left. This is a stack of 8 x 3-minute exposures with the 35mm Canon lens at f/2.8 and Canon EOS Ra at ISO 800. 4 shots were through the NISI Natural Night light pollution reduction filter and 4 were through the Hoya Red Enhancer filter, taken as part of testing. An additional exposure through the Kenko Softon filter adds the star glows. Taken from home on a very clear night, December 29, 2019 on the iOptron SkyGuider Pro.
Perseus Association (bottom) and Double Cluster (top) Taken with 165mm telephoto lens on Pentax 6x7 camera with Ektachrome E200 film and 18 minute exposure. Image cropped slightly top and bottom due to light leak on fim which light struck edges of film. Taken from home in October 2003.
This frames most of the constellation of Perseus, emphasizing the bright and dark nebulas within it, as well as the star clusters in and around the constellation suitable for binoculars or a telescope. At top is the IC 1805/1848 complex known as the Heart and Soul Nebulas. At lower left is a small emission nebula NGC 1491. Beside it are the star clusters NGC 1528 and 1545. At lower centre is the Messier cluster M34, while over the border in Andromeda is the large and loose star cluster NGC 752, at lower right. Algol is the star at bottom centre. At lower left is Mirfak surrounded by the Perseus OB Association of young blue stars. At top centre is the famous showpiece, the Double Cluster. The Milky Way is streaked with yellowish dust clouds, contrasting with the bluer sky off the Milky Way at right. The most prominent dark nebula is from the Barnard Catalogue, B8/B11, at far left. This is a stack of 27 x 3-minute exposures with the Canon RF28-70mm lens at 50mm and at f/2.8, on the Canon EOS Ra camera at ISO 1600, on the Star Adventurer Mini tracker. Shot with an URTH Night light pollution filter. Taken from home October 7, 2021. Luminosity mask adjustments applied with Lumenzia. A mild Orton glow added with Luminar AI.
