The area of Ophiuchus and Scorpius with the globular clusters M19 (at centre) and M62 (at bottom left). The dark lane intruding from the left is the Pipe Nebula. This is a stack of 5 x 2-minute exposures with the 200mm lens at f/2.8 and Canon 5D MkII at ISO 1600.
Alpha Centauri, or Rigil Kentaurus, the brightest star in Centaurus and the nearest star system to the Sun. It is a pair of Sun-like stars 4 light years away. This is a superb double star but is not resolved here. The star cluster NGC 5617 appears to the right of Alpha. The area is also rich in dark nebulas. High haze added some natural star glows here — no filter was used. I shot this April 3, 2016 from the Tibuc Cottage, Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia using the 77mm f/4 astrographic refractor and filter-modified Canon 5D MkII, for a stack of 4 x 5 minute exposures at ISO 1600.
The Rosette Nebula NGC 2237, at bottom, with open clsuter NGC 2244, and complex of nebulosity in Monoceros above, including Cone Nebula and Christmas Tree Cluster, and Monoceros dark nebula complex. This is a stack of 5 x 8 miniute exposures at f/2.8 and ISO 800 with Canon 5D MkII and Canon L-series 135mm lens.
