Star Clusters
Messier 38 and NGC 1907 in Auriga
Messier 38 on the left is around 3500 lightyears away and 13 lightyears across. The smaller open cluster NGC 1907 towards the top right, is unrelated to M38 and approx 1000 lightyears more distant. The image is unusual in that hydrogen emission nebulosity is visible.
The profusion of background stars is the result of M38 being superimposed against the Milky Way.
The image is the result of 2h of LRGB and 6.5h of H-alpha data capture, taken over 4 evenings in December 2022 and January 2023 from Horsham. A ZWO ASI2600MM Pro monochrome camera was used, through an 8-inch Teleskop-Service Ritchey-Chretien Cassegrain reflector.
Date: 16/01/2023
Location: Horsham, West Sussex, UK
Photographer: Graham Wilcock
