M47

M47

M47 - Open Star Cluster in Puppis

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M47 is a bright open star cluster (magnitude 5.2) of approximately 50 stars in Puppis approximately 1,600 light years distant from the Sun. It is an easily identified naked-eye object and contains bright B2 spectral class (blue) stares and orange K giant stars with luminosity of about 200 times that of the Sun. It is estimated to be 60 million years old. The double star Struve 1121 is detectable in the center of the field by the closely parallel diffraction spikes produced by the Ritchey Chrétien telescope.

  • Location/Date: Gainesville FL, April 2, 2021
  • Telescope: Astro-Tech 10" Ritchey Chretien
  • Camera: QHY600M
  • Guider: Astro-Physics 80x900; Lodestar X2
  • Mount: Astro-Physics 1100GTO
  • Image Acquisition/Guiding Software: N.I.N.A./PHD2
  • Image Processing: PixInsight; Photoshop
  • Captures: 100s subframes; RGB 14 each