M46 & M47 – Open Clusters in Puppis

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: 50x60sec, 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: 18.0 mag/arc-sec^2

Stacking: Mean with a 2-sigma clip.

White Balance: Nebulosity Automatic

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

M46 (left) and M47 (right) are two relatively bright open clusters located to the east of Canis Major in the constellation of Puppis. M47 is the brighter and closer of the pair at a distance of 1,600 light years as compared to M46 at 5,400 light years. M46 is fainter and richer than M47 and also sports a beautiful little planetary nebula (NGC 2438). Although the distance to the nebula is uncertain, it known that it is not physically associated with the cluster and is likely in the foreground. At the upper right edge of this field is a small, relatively sparse open cluster NGC 2423.