M35 & NGC 2158 (Feb. 2023)

I tried several times to see NGC 2158 with a telescope from the suburbs.  My wonderful 6" f/8 would only show me one star.  My C8 would show me that star and hints of two others.  My CFF 290 Classical Cassegrain would show me those three and a glow with averted vision, on the night I tried it.  With a camera on a small scope, the cluster stands out. This is just 16x600" with the Atik 460EXC through the SWED80 at f/6.375.  I am always impressed with the optical quality of the ED80, and the flattener/reducer does a superb job.

M35 & NGC 2158 (Nov. 28, 2011)

Here are two open clusters in the constellation Gemini.  M35 is the apparently larger, bluer cluster.  It is younger and is relatively close.  NGC 2158 is the apparently smaller, redder group.  It is much farther away and very much older.  Its stars have passed the blue stage and moved on to the older, redder stage.  There is also some dust between us and NGC 2158 that reddens the view.  The result is a nice contrast between the two clusters.

Telescope: Stellarvue 80ED NHNG (SV80ED) f/7 w/WO ff/fr 0.8 II (so effectively at f/5.6)
Camera and Exposure: SXVF-H9C, 10x8'
Filter: IDAS-LPS2
Guiding: Borg 50mm, Meade DSI Pro, PHD
Mount: Takahashi NJP
Software: Nebulosity, Maxim DL, Photoshop CS3
Location: The Woodlands, TX

M35 (2-28-2011)

This cluster is about 2,800 light years away in the constellation Gemini. It's sort of a showpiece in the 15" dob. This image was taken with the 6" I-newt, the SXVF-H9C, the Baader MPCC, and the IDAS-LPS-P2 filter. It is 26x2'.