M46 – Open Cluster in Puppis

Telescope: Unitron 142 3” f/15 Refractor

Camera: ZWO ASI294MC (uncooled)

Filter: Meade IR Cut Filter

Guide scope: None

Exposure: 32x10sec, Gain 200, saved as PNG

Darks: None

Flats: Synthetic

Average Light Pollution: Red zone, poor transparency, haze, low altitude

Lensed Sky Quality Meter: 18.2

Stacking: Mean with a 1-sigma clip.

White Balance: Nebulosity Automatic

Software: SharpCap Pro, Nebulosity, Photoshop

M46 is one of several relatively bright open clusters that grace the evening sky in winter and early spring. This cluster also sports a beautiful little planetary nebula (NGC 2438) in the foreground. This little nebula looks quite stunning in a modest size telescope with the rich open cluster in the background. I was pleasantly surprised to see that I could capture the nebula with a 3” f/15 refractor using only 10 second subs.

M46 currently lies in the southeast during the early evening.