Star Cluster M35 is a glittering jewel at the foot of the constellation Gemini, dazzling in its view through binoculars or a small telescope.  Above M35 another cluster lurks dim and distant.  Four times farther away than M35, star cluster NGC 2158 is also much older, yet richer.  The youthful M35, only 100 million years old shines with bright energetic blue-white stars at a distance of 2,800 light years.  The more mature NGC2158, a billion years old, is illuminated by more gently glowing and long-lasting yellow stars at a distance of 16,000 light years.  M35 also contains yellow stars, but the type O and B blue-white type stars dominate our view because they shine much brighter than the type G (yellow), K (orange), or M (red) stars.  The field of view above covers approximately 50 x 70 arcmin and was shot at ISO400 in order to help preserve the star colors. 

IMAGE DETAILS:

• Date & Location:  January 13, 2010  - Bernville, PA

• Weather:  Calm, 24F.

• Sky Conditions:  Patchy cirrus with average transparency. 

• Optics:  TeleVue NP101is Refractor with 0.8x TeleVue Reducer = 432mm @ f4.3

• Filter:  Astronomic  EOS clip-in CLS-CCD (Light Pollution Suppression)

• Mount:  Losmandy G-11 equatorial with Gemini V4

• Guiding:  Orion Solitaire w/TeleVue TV60is

• Camera:  Canon T1i (500D) Hap Griffin Modified - Baader UV/IR

• Exposure:  41 min (2 x 4 min, 2 x 6min, 3 x 7min) @ ISO 400 RAW

• Calibration Frames:  No dark frame subtraction (24F)

• Processing:  Photoshop CS4, Noise Ninja, NIK, Noel Carboni Astronomy Tools

• Comments:  Background sky was darkened in processing a bit more than usual in order to make the star colors more prominent.