Messier 36

Target details

Messier 36 (NGC 1960) is an open star cluster in Auriga, about 4,100 light-years away and 14 light-years across, with at least sixty member stars. It's very like the Pleiades (Messier 45): if it were as close to us, it would look about as bright.

Capture details

Data captured 17th October & 1st November, 2018.
17x 2 minute exposures with Blue filter (Binned 2x2).
21x 2 minute exposures with Green filter (Binned 2x2).
20x 2 minute exposures with Red filter (Binned 2x2).
53x 3 minute exposures with Luminance filter.

Total Exposure = 4.6 hours.

Equipment details

Skywatcher Quattro 200 CF
NEQ6 Pro
Atik 428EX Mono
Skywatcher ST-80
QHY5L-II

Processing details

This image was processed in Pixinsight & Lightroom.
Calibration and Stacking in Pixinsight using Batch PreProcessing
Automatic Background Extraction - To remove gradients. (Each Channel separately)
Channel Combination - To combine RGB channels.
Photometric Colour Calibration - To calibrate colours.
SCNR - To remove green cast.
Deconvolution - To tighten stars, 50 iterations. (Luminance Only)
Multiscale Linear Transform - To noise reduce the Luminance only.
LRGB Combination - To blend my luminance image with my RGB image.
Histogram Transformation - To stretch the LRGB image.
Curves Transformation - To boost contrast.

Export as JPEG and import into Lightroom.

Increase Contrast (+10)
Increase Vibrance (+50)

Export final JPEG for upload.