Coma Galaxy Cluster
Coma Cluster
All Images Copyright Steve Cannistra


Characteristics:
Magnitude:  Varies- NGC 4874 (larger galaxy to left of center) is 12.9; NGC 4884 (larger galaxy roughly at center) is 12.5
Size: FOV of above image is roughly 1.38 degrees x 56 arcminutes
Distance: 350 million light years
RA: 12h 59m 54s
Dec: +27 degrees 55' 27"

Description:
This is popular cluster of springtime galaxies, located in Coma Berenices, at a distance of 350 million light years.  Most of the "stars" in this image are actually faint galaxies.  More information on the Coma Cluster may be found here.

Photographic Details:
Date:  April 28, 2006.
Scope:  Takahashi FS-102 at f6 , on the G11 Losmandy Mount. 
Autoguider:  SBIG STV with e-finder.
Camera:  Maxcam CM10
Filter:  Astronomik clear filter; IDAS LPS.
Exposures:  150 minutes, unbinned.
Conditions:  Temperature 50 degrees F, dropping to mid 30's by dawn; good transparency; average seeing.
Post-processing:  Debloomed with Ron Wodaski's Debloomer software, calibrated and aligned in Maxim, combined using RC Sigma Reject MaximDL, followed by DDP in ImagesPlus (IP).  Levels, curves, high-pass sharpening in Photoshop CS (16 bit format).

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