The constellation of Cancer with the star cluster M44 at centre. Taken from New Mexico, March 2013, with the 50mm Sigma lens at f/4 and Canon 5D MkII at ISO 800 for a stack of 5 x 7 minute exposures + 2 exposures taken through the Kenko Softon filter for the star glows. Pollux is at upper right, Procyon at lower right, and Regulus at lower left. The slight diagonal brightening across the frame is the Zodiacal Band.
The constellation of Canis Major, the large hunting dog of Orion the hunter. The binocular open star cluster Messier 41 is at centre below Sirius. The pair of star clusters, M46 and M47, are at left. The bright star is of course the Dog Star, Sirius. This is a stack of 2 x 2-minute exposures with the 50mm Sigma lens at f/2.5 and Canon 5D MkII at ISO 1600, plus an additional exposure through the Kenko Softon filter layered in to add the star glows. Taken from Quailway Cottage in Arizona, with the Star Adventurer Mini tracker.
The constellation of Canis Major and nearby open clusters and nebulas, taken from Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia, December 13/14, 2012, with Sigma 50mm lens at f/3.2 and the filter-modified Canon 5D MkII at ISO 800 for stack of 6 x 4 minute exposures. M41 is below Sirius, M46 and M47 are to the left edge of frame. M50 is above the Seagull Nebula, IC 2177 at upper left. Some exposures had light cirrus cloud passing through which added the star glows naturally. I have turned Canis Major right side up but from Australia it would appear upside down -- the part of the frame closest to the horizon when I took this was the top of the frame. Sirius is at upper centre, vastly overexposed.
