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This is a wide-angled picture of M52, in the constellation of Cassiopeia, which makes it look a bit like a globular cluster but it is in fact an open cluster. Its diameter is 15 arc-minutes and this picture is 95 by 63 arc-minutes. It was discovered by Charles Messier in 1774 when a bright comet he was observing passed close to it. At least 190 stars within 9 arc-minutes of the centre have been determined to be a part of the cluster. It is believed to be between 3,000 and 7,000 light years away in which case it is about 20 light years in diameter. Its age is probably about 35 million years. | ||
| Date and Time | 16th September 2010 22:35 UT | Camera | Canon 1000D | Telescope | ST80 with X2 SLR lens | Exposure | 60 sec at ISO 1600 | Processing | PhotoImpact. Reduction in size, some increase in contrast, brightness, and gamma to compensate for losses in the reduction. Focus Magic. Sharpening 2,100 |
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