How to photograph the Double Cluster (NGC 869 & NGC 884)
Two rich star clusters side by side, with red and blue stars.
Photo byGiuseppe Donatiello(CC0)
When to shoot it from your location
About the Double Cluster
The Double Cluster is bright and colorful, and easy to get right. Clusters cope well with moonlight, so it is a good choice when nebulae and galaxies are washed out.
Gear and framing
The Double Cluster spans about 60′ of sky. It frames best with:
- Telephoto (85-300mm lens)
- Small refractor (250-600mm)
You can see how other people have built their rigs on RigDesigner, including my Sony a6700 and 60mm refractor rig.
Filters
This is a broadband target, which means its light is mostly starlight across the whole spectrum. Shoot it with no filter or a UV/IR cut filter. A broadband light pollution filter can help a little in the suburbs. Dual-band and narrowband filters block most of its light, so leave them off. Plan it for a moonless night at a dark site.
Tips
- Short total exposures work. Focus carefully and keep star colors by stretching gently.
Processing
Stack your light frames with darks and flats, then remove the background gradient before stretching. AstroBake does all of this for you. Point it at your folders of raw frames, then adjust the result with live sliders.