24 Jun
2011
24 Jun
'11
10:16 p.m.
http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=4394 Ptolemy's Cluster is one of my favorite binocular objects, even though it is so close to the horizon as seen from Utah. This cluster is just outside the Sagittarius Arm gas wall towards the galactic center. This relatively close cluster (800 lyr) makes a nice size contrast with the more typically mid-distant open clusters like M23 (2,000 lyr) or the closer M45 (440 lyr) or the really close Ursa Major Moving Group (80 lyr). This bad M7 image was taken 6-20-2011 from a light polluted urban location and between clouds. Canon Xsi 450 f/6 10 secs 800 ISO on poor tracking mount. - Clear Skies Kurt