M41 - Open Cluster in Canis Major

M41 is an open cluster located within the constellation of Canis Major. This open cluster is located about 4 degrees South of Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky. M41 contains about 100 stars of varying colors including several red giants, which of the brightest, is about 700 times brighter than the Sun. This cluster is about 26 light years across and is located approximately 2,300 light years from Earth. The age of this star cluster is estimated to be about 190 million years old.

Image Specifications:

     •  Instrument:  Takahashi FS-102 Refractor (820mm - f/8) with 0.8x Televue reducer
     •  Camera:  Canon 20Da
     •  Filters:  Hutech IDAS LPS (Light Pollution)
     •  Mount:  Losmandy GM-8 Equatorial
     •  Guiding:  SBIG STV Autoguider with Vixen 400mm Guidescope
     •  Time / Date :  January 10, 2007, 9:30PM EST
     •  Location:  Coyle Field, NJ
     •  Weather:  Clear, 25degF
     •  Primary Exposure :  2 x 2min, ISO 800, RAW, average combined
     •  Calibration Frames:  None
     •  Image Processing :  Images Plus, Photoshop CS2