Messier 18 (M18) – The Black Swan Cluster – with vdB 121
September 8, 2024
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Messier 18 (M18) is an open star cluster in Sagittarius about 4,900 light years from Earth. It’s a sparse cluster with only around 20 members and an age of 32 million years.
The reflection nebula vdB 121 is just below and to the right of M18 in the image. It’s about 5,300 light years away.
This is one of my favorite images. The sparse cluster and its vicinity reflecting blue scattered light while surrounded by hydrogen emission material paints a lonely, but lovely picture.
Image Capture
Location:
Deep Sky West
Camera:
Total integration: 20h
Integration per filter:
- Lum: 7h 33m (151 × 180")
- R: 4h 9m (83 × 180")
- G: 4h 9m (83 × 180")
- B: 4h 9m (83 × 180")
Coordinates: 18h 20m 34s · -17° 6′ 19″
Moravian C5a-100M
Finding Chart
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Telescope
Takahashi TOA130
Astrophotography Prize Highly Commended
Awards
