M67 – Open Cluster in Cancer

Telescope: Unitron 142 3” f/16 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

Lensed Sky Quality Meter: 18.4

Stacking: Mean with a 1-sigma clip.

White Balance: Nebulosity Automatic

Software: SharpCap Pro, Nebulosity, Photoshop

M67 is one of my favorite modest open clusters. It is located off to the east of the much larger and brighter M44 (The Beehive) and it is a bit harder to find, but worth the effort. M67 is very old for an open cluster with an estimated age of about 4 billion years. The stars in an open cluster are usually only weakly bound to the group and they slowly scatter as the cluster orbits the galaxy.

High in the southeast this time of year, M67 makes a fine target for modest telescopes and blossoms into a fine patch of stardust in large telescopes.