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.
This is the small and sparse star cluster M29 (Messier 29) at centre in Cygnus the Swan. It barely stands out from the rich background Milky Way field in this long exposure. Above M29 is the IC 1318 complex of nebulosity around the bright star Gamma Cygni, aka Sadr. This is a stack of 12 x 4-minute exposures at ISO 800 with the Canon R5 and through the Starfield Optics Géar90 EDT refractor with its 0.8x Adjustable Reducer/Flattener for f/4.8. On the Astro-Physics Mach1 mount and autoguided and dithered with the Lacerta MGEN3 autoguider. The Canon R5 is a stock camera, not modified and no filter was employed here, but it picked up the nebulosity quite well.
The Beehive star cluster, aka Messier 44 or the Praesepe Cluster, in Cancer, here in a field of view wide enough (7.5° by 5°) to frame it with its surrounding stars, in particular the four stars that form a quadrilateral figure around M44: Asellus Borealis and Asellus Australis to the left, and orange Eta and Theta Cancri to the right. The field is similar to that of binoculars. This is a stack of 15 x 3-minute exposures with the Askar V scope with its 60mm lens and focal reducer for f/4.5, on the filter-modified Canon R at ISO 800 and on the Sky-Watcher EQM-35 mount autoguided with the Lacerta MGEN3 stand-alone autoguider. Taken from home April 17, 2023. Diffraction spikes added with AstronomyTools actions to make the stars "sparkle."
