How to photograph the Messier 35 (M35)
A rich winter star cluster with the smaller, older cluster NGC 2158 beside it.
Photo byChuck Ayoub(CC0)
When to shoot it from your location
About the Messier 35
M35 is bright and easy to find at the feet of Gemini. It handles moonlight well, and NGC 2158 just to the side makes a nice contrast in age and color.
Gear and framing
The Messier 35 spans about 28′ 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
- A good target for moonlit winter nights.
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.