The Double Cluster in Perseus, NGC 869 and NGC 884
The famous double cluster in Perseus was known in historic times (probably even pre-historically), and first cataloged by the Greek astronomer Hipparcos.
Both clusters are situated in the Perseus OB 1 association, and also only a few hundred light-years apart, at a distance of over 7000 light years. They are both quite young: NGC 869 is listed at 5.6, NGC 884 at 3.2 million years (Sky Catalog 2000); their hottest main sequence stars are of spectral type B0. They are approaching us at 22 (NGC 869) and 21 (NGC 884) km/sec, respectively.
The Double Cluster in Perseus, NGC 869 and 844, one of the best sites in the sky IMHO.
176 Minutes total exposure time (88x120seconds)
Intes-Micro MN-56 127mm F6 Maksutov-Newtonian
Modified Canon 400D
Celestron CI-700 Mount
Guided with an Orion 100mm F6 refractor and Meade DSI
Image acquisition-MaximDL
Guiding-PHD
Stacked and calibrated with Darks Bias and Flats in Deep Sky Stacker
Processed with MaximDL and Photoshop CS2
