NGC 457 + Massimo Di Fusco + L-QEF (L-Quad Enhance Filter)

NGC 457

Credit:  Massimo Di Fusco

Filters:  L-QEF (L-Quad Enhance Filter)

 

 

NGC 457 (also known as Caldwell 13, Dragonfly Cluster, E.T. Cluster, Owl Cluster, Kachina Doll Cluster or Phi Cassiopeiae Cluster) is an open star cluster in the constellation Cassiopeia. It was discovered by William Herschel on 18 October 1787 with an 18.7-inch reflecting telescope and catalogued as VII 42.
It is located more than 7,900 light years from the Sun and has an estimated age of 21 million years. The cluster is sometimes called the Owl Cluster or E.T. Cluster (because it looks like the character from the film) by amateur astronomers. Two bright stars, Phi Cassiopeiae (magnitude 5 and spectral type F0) and HD 7902 (magnitude 7), can be imagined as eyes. It is still unclear whether Phi Cassiopeiae is part of the cluster and, if so, it would be one of the brightest stars known, surpassing Rigel in brightness. For comparison, the Sun at the same distance as Phi Cassiopeiae would have a magnitude of only 17.3. The next brightest star is the red supergiant variable V466 Cassiopeiae.
The cluster has a rich field of about 150 stars of magnitude 9-13, and about 60 stars have been identified as true members of the cluster.

 

 

 

Konus 200/1000 @950mm, f/4.8
Player One Poseidon-C camera
Sky-Watcher Eq6r Pro mount
Optolong L-Quad Enhance filter 66x180"
APP, PixInsight, PS
Ferrara (Italy)

Hope you like it.