Double Cluster NGC 884 and NGC 869 (4 November 2020)
These two open star clusters in close proximity, known as the Double Cluster, make a serene view. The right cluster is catalogued as NGC 884, and the left as NGC 869. They are about 7500 light year away, but separated from each other by only a few hundred light-years. Each cluster has about 300 blue-white super-giant stars, and the whole star field is speckled with a handful of beautiful orange stars.
This is, relatively speaking, a bright target. It’s visible to the unaided eye in dark sky areas and easily visible with binoculars. It was therefore an appropriate target for a night with a 90%-illuminated moon, and a sky filled with firework smoke!
Frames
- 62× 120-s light frames (Gain 900)
- Full use of calibration frames (darks, flats and dark flats)
Equipment
- Explore Scientific ED 102 mm Apo f/7 refractor
- Sky-Watcher EQ6-R PRO SynScan GOTO equatorial mount
- Altair Hypercam 294C PRO colour fan-cooled camera
- Revelation Adjustable Field Flattener
- Altair 60mm guide scope
- Altair GPCAM2 AR0130 mono guide camera
Software
- Sharpcap
- PHD2
- DeepSkyStacker
- Photoshop
- Topaz Labs DeNoise AI
