Messier 52 (also known as M 52 or NGC 7654) is an open cluster in the Cassiopeia constellation. It was discovered by Charles Messier in 1774. M52 can be seen from Earth with binoculars.
Due to interstellar absorption of light, the distance to M 52 is uncertain, with estimates ranging between 3,000 and 7,000 light years. One study identified 193 probable members of the cluster, with the brightest member being magnitude 11.
Messier 52 is evaluated at about 35 million years old.
NGC 7635, also called the Bubble Nebula, Sharpless 162, or Caldwell 11, is a H II region emission nebula. The "bubble" is created by the stellar wind from a massive hot, 8.7 magnitude young central star. The nebula is near a giant molecular cloud which contains the expansion of the bubble nebula while itself being excited by the hot central star, causing it to glow. It was discovered in 1787 by William Herschel. The star SAO 20575 or BD+602522 is thought to have a mass of 10-40 Solar masses.
Wikipedia
This is my first photo using the Halpha filter for Luminance data. That presented some processing challenges. I ended up using it blended with the red data for the red channel, I then added it as luminance in Photoshop 3 times starting with 20% opacity and moving up from there. I used the Ha as the moon was still up when I started gathering my data. I shot Ha until the moon had set and captured the color data after that. High clouds were present the entire night. I stopped shooting at about 2 am when the clouds thickened up. Of course after I'd disassembled everything and loaded it back into my car, the clouds were mostly gone. All-in-all, I am pretty happy with this one.
Photo Details
Imaged Oct 20, 2012 West of Columbia, MO
Camera: SBIG ST8300 with FW5
Telescope: William Optics FLT110 w/Reducer Flattener IV system @ f5.6
Mount: Astro Physics Mach 1, guided with PHD Guide
HA 6 x 15 minutes
RGB 3 x 10 minutes
CCDStack, Photoshop CS6