Collinder 69 – Open Cluster in Orion

Telescope: Meade SN6 Comet Tracker at f/3.6, Orion Atlas EQ-G

Camera: Full Spectrum Modified Nikon D5300, Baader Mk III MPCC

Filter: Orion Imaging Skyglow Filter

Guide scope: Orion 50mm, ZWO ASI120MM mini

Exposure: 29x60sec, ISO 200, saved as RAW

Darks: Internal (Long Exposure Noise Reduction On)

Flats: 32×1/10sec, Tee shirt flats taken at dusk

Average Light Pollution: Red zone, Bortle 8, poor transparency, bright moonlight

Lensed Sky Quality Meter: 18.1 mag/arc-sec^2

Stacking: Mean with a 2-sigma clip.

White Balance: Nebulosity Automatic

Software: Backyard Nikon, Deep Sky Stacker, Nebulosity, Photoshop

Collinder 69 (Cr 69) is a large, bright open cluster that forms the head of Orion. Near its center is the beautiful double star Lamda Orionis (Meissa) shining at magnitude 3.4 and 5.5. This region is a delight in binoculars and small telescopes and simply wonderful in wide field scopes.

Collinder 69 is currently well placed rising in the east during the early evening.