IC 1805 (Sept. 2020)

IC 1805 is an open cluster set in the complex cloud of nebulosity from which the stars formed.  This is 14x900" in late September with the Atik 460EXC and 203mm Synta-ONTC Newtonian at f/4.95.

Melotte 15 and IC 1805's Heart, Early Fall 2013

Full resolution image here.

Here is a slightly modified Hubble palette version of the cluster Melotte 15 and the heart of IC 1805.  To the bi-color I've added Sulfur II emission.  Now SII = Red, Ha+NII = Green, and OIII = Blue, though the colors have been shifted somewhat to emphasize the contrasts between them.

Telescope: Astro-Tech AT111EDT and William Optics AFR-IV (eff. at f/5.6)
Camera and Exposure: SXVF-H9 (Ha+NII:23x1200"; OIII:17x1200"; SII:18x1200"), Alnitak Flat-man flats
Filter: Astronomik Ha+NII, OIII, SII
Guiding: SX Lodestar and SX OAG
Mount: Takahashi NJP
Software: Nebulosity, Maxim DL, Registar, Photoshop CS3
Location: The Woodlands, TX

IC 1805 & Melotte 15, Bi-Color (Sept. & Oct. 2013)

Full resolution image here.

This is the brightest part of IC1805 in eastern Cassiopeia.  The star cluster to the right is Melotte 15.  What is stunning about this area is how the ionization fronts twist and turn next to the star cluster.

This is a bi-color image, but Ha[+NII] dominates the scene.  The OIII is present nearly everywhere the Ha exists, but is dimmer.  I've included both monochrome frames below, Ha then OIII.

Telescope: Astro-Tech AT111EDT and William Optics AFR-IV (eff. at f/5.6)
Camera and Exposure: SXVF-H9 (Ha+NII:23x1200"; OIII:17x1200"), Alnitak Flat-man flats
Filter: Astronomik Ha+NII & OIII
Guiding: SX Lodestar and SX OAG
Mount: Takahashi NJP
Software: Nebulosity, Maxim DL, Registar, Photoshop CS3
Location: The Woodlands, TX

Melotte 15 in IC 1805 (Oct. 28, 2011)

Melotte 15 is a cluster of young stars at the heart of a large cloud of gas and dust often called the Heart Nebula, IC 1805.  Mel 15 is the heart of the Heart.  The cloud and cluster lie in the constellation Cassiopeia.

Telescope: Orion 10" f/4.7 Newtonian and Baader RCC1
Camera and Exposure: SXVF-H9C, 20x10'
Filter: IDAS-LPS2
Guiding: SX Lodestar and SX OAG
Mount: Takahashi NJP
Software: Nebulosity, Maxim DL, Photoshop CS3
Location: The Woodlands, TX