M34 (Spiral Cluster) - Open Cluster type 'd', in Perseus

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    12" RC -LHaRGB      
    Size: 1800 px      
 
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© Velimir Popov & Emil Ivanov 2013

Probably first found by Giovanni Batista Hodierna before 1654, and independently rediscovered by Charles Messier in on August 25, 1764.M34 (NGC 1039) is an intermediate aged open cluster and lies about 1800 light years away in the constellation Perseus. M34 spans about 15 light-years. The age of M34 was recently been updated to 180 million years, according to the new calculations of G. Meynet's Geneva Team. Over 100 stars belong to this cluster, with the brightest concentrated towards the center. It is believed that M34 is part of a larger local group of star clusters that includes Pleiades.

Image details:

Annotation
Center of field RA 02:42:10 (h:m:s)
Center of field DE +42:45:59 (deg:m:s)
Size 31.3 x 31.3 (arcmin)
Pixel scale: 1.04 (arcsec/pixel)
Orientation: Up is 179 degrees E of N
Charts and image details obtained from Astrometry.net
Optic(s): RC 12" with Astro-Physics corrector @ f/5 (RC)
Mount: ASA DDM85 Premium
Camera: ATIK 4000 M
Filters: Astronomik HaLRGB filter set
Dates/Times: 18.11.2012
Location: IRIDA Observatory, BG, longitude: E 24 44' 18", latitude: N 41 41' 42"
Exp. Details: L: 5x3 min, R: 5x3 min, G: 5x3 min, B: 5x30 min
  Bin 1, Total Exposure Time - 60 min
More details: Dark and flat frames reduction
Processing: PixInsight / PS
 
Copyright: Velimir Popov and Emil Ivanov 2013. All Rights Reserved
 
e-mail: info@irida-observatory.org
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