M45 Pleiades

M45 Pleiades

This is my image of the Pleiades system in a 2×2 mosaic.  I captured this with a Celestron RASA 11 and ZWO 1600mm pro camera using Badder RGB filters over the course of several nights.  I processed in Astro Pixel Processor and then touched up in PixInsight and PhotoShop.

I particularly like the natural effects of the diffraction spikes produced by my imaging system.  I also like the small galaxy found to the right of this system lurking in the background.

Telescope: Celestron RASA 11 (620mm focal @ f/2.2)
Filters:  Baader Ultra-Highspeed F/2 3.5nm & 4nm Filters.
Main Camera:  ZWO ASI 1600mm-pro Monochrome
Tilt & BackFocus Adjuster:  ASG Photon Cage
Mount:  Skywatcher EQ6r-Pro
Guide Scope:  William Optics 50mm Uniguide
Guide Camera:  ZWO ASI 290mm-mini

Location:  Pendleton, Oregon
Observatory:  NexDome 2.4m Automated
Bortle:  3
Long & Lat:  45.67N, -118.79 W

Date:  August 29th-September 1st, 2022

R: 577 x 15 seconds
G: 588 x 15 seconds
B: 555 x 15 seconds

Total Integration time ~7hrs

Calibration Bias: 20
Calibration Dark: 20
Calibration Flats: 30 for each filter

Gain:  75
Cooling:  -5
Processing Software
:   Stacked in Astro Pixel Processor, captured using NINA, Processed in PixInsight & PS