NGC 2168 (M35) and 2158 represent two very different generations of open star clusters. M35 contains around 500 stars, many of which are young bright blue-white B3 main sequence, at only 100 million years old, and lies 2,800 LY from us. In contrast, NGC 2158 is 2 billion years old, and 14,700 LY away, comprising older, red giants.
I imaged these on a windy night, unguided, and was pleased to just about capture both clusters at f3 in my SCT. Data were binned 2x2 on capture, and following a helpful explanation by
@Rick Veregin I now realise the limitations of this on the full dynamic range of CMOS sensors, with the bright stars in M35 being saturated and appearing white.
Data were collected in Nebulosity 4, with the best 60% subs aligned and stacked in ASTAP , and processed in Startools 1.8 with further 2x2 binning (the tiny 2.4 micron pixels over sample at this f ratio), a little stretching, deconvolution, and star reduction. I imaged this
previously with my WO Zenithstar 80ED and DSI III pro camera; an interesting comparison, showing the larger field and clear benefit of much longer integration.
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