M 46 - Open Cluster

Puppis

(ra: 7:41.8/ dec -14:49)

February 2nd 2009, taken from Merlo San Luis, Argentina

DATA

TYPE: Open Cluster

APPARENT MAGNITUDE: 6.1

APPARENT DIMENSION: 27 arc minutes

DISTANCE: 5400 lights years

OBJECT DESCRIPTION

M 46 is a fine open cluster in Puppis and was the first object Charles Messier discovered after the first edition of its list. (*)

The cluster has a vast population of stars around magnitude 10 - 13. As special bonus comes with this object: Planetary Nebula NGC 2438 well inside the cluster, however the little gem is not related with the stars. M46 was the first target for me in Merlo for 2009 vacation season, and of course very good to start warming up the set up...

(*) Source: SEDS

IMAGE INFORMATION

SCOPE: Celestron SCT - C8 riding in a LXD 75 Mount

SKY CONDITIONS: Seeing regular, transparency good. 1/4 Moon

CAMERA: Starlight Xpress SXVF H9 roughly @f 6.3

FILTERS: Astronomik Type II, Atik Filter Wheel

IMAGE ACQUISITION: AstroArt 3.0, CCD Control Interface 3.72

EXPOSURES: LRGB (10,10,10,10)

PROCESSED: Calibrated (no darks, no flats, no offsets) in ImagesPlus. Digital Development in ImagesPlus,  CCD Sharp, Photoshop CS