Mark Germani captures Pleiades star cluster and blue nebulas
Updated
Updated · Space.com · Apr 30
Mark Germani captures Pleiades star cluster and blue nebulas
2 articles · Updated · Space.com · Apr 30
The image, taken from Vancouver, shows the Taurus cluster 445 light-years away, including its seven brightest stars, after more than 18 hours of imaging across seven January nights and one in February.
Germani used an Askar SQA55 refractor, a ZWO camera and a UV/IR-cut filter to bring out colour and faint dusty detail after earlier difficulties photographing M45.
NASA says the blue reflection nebulas are interstellar dust clouds the cluster is passing through, not leftover formation material; the Pleiades is now sinking low in the western sky after sunset.
With the Pleiades fading from view, which upcoming deep-sky targets offer similar challenges and rewards for astrophotographers this season?
What post-processing techniques did Mark Germani use to achieve such vivid details in his Pleiades photograph?
How does the shift to smarter, automated astrophotography equipment impact the personal connection astronomers feel with the cosmos?