Deep Sky Object in Autumn
M103 (Open Cluster in Cassiopeia)


Date & Time: Nov 5 2016, from 23:43 to 24:16 JST(+0900)
Composed 5 shots with 8 minutes exposed
Optical: Meade 25cm(10") Schmidt-Cassegrain with conversion lens (f=1600mm, F6.3)
with BaaderPlanetarium UV/IR cut filter
Auto-guided with Meade LX200 Equatorial & Pictor 201XT
Digital Camera: Canon EOS 600D (Remodeled)
Location: Ooizumi, Hokuto city, Yamanashi pref.

Camera Settings: Recording Format...14bit CCD-RAW, converted to 16bit TIFF(5184×3456)
Sensitivity...ISO1600


M103 (NGC581) / Open Cluster, type d, II 2 m
R.A.01h 33m 11.9s (2000.0)
Dec.+60°42' 00" (2000.0)
Apparent Size5'
Real Size6 light yrs.
# of Stars25
Magnitude7.4
Distance3740 light yrs.
M103 is a compact open cluster positioned about 1 degree ENE of beta Cas. The cluster has a diameter of only 6 arc minutes, the smallest one in all Messier's open clusters. It might be fairly difficult to catch the cluster with binoculars, perhaps your attention will be paid in another cluster of NGC663 lying only 1.5 degrees east of M103. You need small telescope about 3-inch in aperture to appreciate the nebula like image, and long exposed pictures show us splendid open cluster with dozens of fine stars.



M52 & Bubble Nebula
NGC129

Copyright(c) 2017 by Naoyuki Kurita, All rights reserved.
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