About this Object:
Messier 52 (also known as M 52 or NGC 7654) is an open cluster in the Cassiopeia constellation. It was discovered by Charles Messier in 1774. M52 can be seen from Earth with binoculars. Also in this picture is NGC 7635, the Bubble Nebula which is a H II region emission nebula in the constellation Cassiopeia. The "bubble" is created by the stellar wind from a massive hot, young central star. The nebula is near a giant molecular cloud which contains the expansion of the bubble nebula while itself being excited by the hot central star, causing it to glow.

About this Photo:
Date(s): October 7, 2010
Location: From my driveway in Georgetown, Texas
Telescope: Orion ED80 @ F7.5
Mount: HEQ-5
Guiding: Orion StarShoot AutoGuider / Orion ST-80
Camera: Canon 40D Modified
Filter: Astronomik CLS
Exposure: 9 x 120s @ ISO1600 (18 Min total)
Acquisition: ImagesPlus 3.75 Camera Control
Processing: ImagesPlus 3.75 – Darks,Flats,Bias
Post-processing: Adobe Photoshop CS3; Gradient Exterminator; Noise Ninja; Noel Carboni's Tools; Temperature(s): 60º F