M38 (Starfish Cluster), Open Cluster in Auriga

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    12" RC -LHaRGB      
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© Velimir Popov & Emil Ivanov 2013

Discovered by Giovanni Batista Hodierna before 1654 and independently found by Le Gentil in 1749.M38 is considered an intermediately rich open cluster about 220 million years old. M38 is still young enough to house many bright blue stars, although it's brightest star is a yellow giant shining 900 times brighter than our Sun. The cluster spans roughly 25 light-years and lies about 4200 light-years away.

Image details:

Annotation
Center of field RA 05:28:52 (h:m:s)
Center of field DE +35:50:07 (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: 21.10.2012
Location: IRIDA Observatory, BG, longitude: E 24 44' 18", latitude: N 41 41' 42"
Exp. Details: L: 2x3 min, R: 2x3 min, G: 2x3 min, B: 2x30 min
  Bin 1, Total Exposure Time - 24 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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