I was shooting more than just the Milky Way while on vacation. Well, it is a bit noisy, but for only eleven minutes I am happy, besides it is better than anything I would get back home. I have always wanted to do this area but it is very difficult in southwestern Connecticut as it it low and in the direction of light pollution headquarters (NYC). Of course I would have liked to get more data but there were clouds moving in and out.

Using the 50mm lens (nifty fifty) results in a very wide field which in turn leads to many neat objects. The large white object on the left is Jupiter and I had to tone it done a bit. Antares is the large yellow star located on the lower left side. Approximately 550 light-years it is the 15th brightest star in the night sky gives of a yellow glow although it is a red supergiant. If it were placed where our sun is it would reach well past the orbit of Mar. It is actually a binary star system with a small hot star and the red supergiant.

Other highlights of this region include M4, Alniyat, Rho Ophiuchi Nebula (IC 4604), dark dust clouds, the Blue Horsehead Nebula (IC 4592). M4 is a globular cluster ~7200 ly away located just to the right of Antares. To the left of M4 reddish nebulosity surrounds the pulsating variable star Alniyat. Above Antares and Alniyat is the blue Rho Ophiuchi Nebula. All of the gas and dust in the area is known as the Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex and includes the dark streaks which are large cool clouds of dust and gas. Other nebula within this complex are IC 4601, IC 4603, and IC 4605. Lastly, located in the center of the image is the Blue Horsehead Nebula spanning about 40 ly approximately 400 ly away.

Processing was a bit tough mainly trying to reduce the noise. I normally would not post it until more noise was reduced but there is only so much you could do with so little time. I also highly saturated it in order to bring out the colors.