The trio of large open clusters ideal for binoculars grouped in Ophiuchus and Serpens — with IC 4756 at left in Serpens, NGC 6633 in Ophiuchus to the right of IC 4756, and IC 4665 at right of frame above the bright star Beta Ophiuchi, or Cebalrai, in Ophiuchus. The pair of NGC 6633 and IC 4756 are also known as the S-O Double Cluster, for their home in Serpens and Ophiuchus. They are an obvious sight when scanning the west side of the summer Milky Way. Below Cebalrai is the large 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 9 x 2-minute exposures at f/2.8 with the 85mm Rokinon lens and Canon 6D MkII at ISO 800, plus a single exposure with the Kenko Softon filter blended in to add the star glows.
Splendours of the southern Milky Way from Vela (at top right) to Centaurus (at bottom left), including the Carina Nebula, Crux and Coal Sack, and Alpha and Beta Centauri. A part of the huge Gum Nebula is at far right. The False Cross is at right, with the large cluster NGC 2516, the Diamond Cluster, below it. The globular cluster Omega Centauri is at upper left. This is a stack of 4 x 3-minute exposures at f/2.8 with the 35mm lens and filter-modified Canon 5D MkII at ISO 2000. Median combined to help eliminate cloud that was moving in. On the iOptron Sky-Tracker.
Splendours of the southern Milky Way from Vela (at top right) to Centaurus (at bottom left), including the Carina Nebula, Crux and Coal Sack, and Alpha and Beta Centauri. A part of the huge Gum Nebula is at far right. The False Cross is at right, with the large cluster NGC 2516, the Diamond Cluster, below it. The globular cluster Omega Centauri is at upper left. This is a stack of 4 x 3-minute exposures at f/2.8 with the 35mm lens and filter-modified canon 5D MkII at ISO 2000. Median combined to help eliminate cloud that was moving in. On the iOptron Sky-Tracker.
