• Photos

M46: Double Feature! An Open Cluster and Planetary Nebula in Puppis

M46: The Open Cluster with a Planetary Nebula Puzzle!

Here’s a gorgeous open cluster with a unique twist: it shares the same field of view with several planetary nebulae! What’s particularly fascinating (and frustrating for astronomers!) is the debate around NGC 2438 (clearly visible in the photo). Is it truly part of the cluster, or is it just a foreground/background object? Even the pros haven’t settled on an answer yet!

  • Acquisition Date: 2012-02-19
  • Credit: Cédric Thomas
  • Location: ‘Le petit Borobia’ Observatory, remote operation
  • Telescope: William Optics FLT 110 TEC (oiled spaced) @ F/5.2
  • Focal Reducer: William Optics AFR-IV 0.8x
  • Mount: Sky Watcher N-EQ6 Pro
  • Autoguiding: LodeStar on 80mm guide scope + MaximDL
  • Camera: Canon EOS 1100d Astrodon Modified
  • Total Exposure: 2h30 (30x300s) @ ISO 800
  • Processing: DeepSkyStacker, Levels + Curves + Cropping (Photoshop)