Westerlund 1 Super Cluster

[Ryderscope]

This image captures the area of sky around the super cluster - Westerlund 1. It is located in the Milk Way in Ara near the tail of Scorpius and close the constellation of Norma. The cluster, and surrounding area, is quite red due to atmospheric absorption caused by interstellar dust.

The image makes for nice viewing with the scattering of Ha regions and the distinctive dark nebula running across the image. The dark nebula kind of looks like a sea horse dance across the field of stars. I couldn't find any separate catalogue reference to this dark nebula (at least in Stellarium anyway!) so it may not be cataloged as such.

Link to image on Astrobin here. (https://astrob.in/420952/0/)
Click on image in Astrobin for a larger view.

Clear skies,
Rodney.

[strongmanmike]

Something different Rod and nicely handled, :thumbsup:

I see the Seahorse...similarly it also looks a leafy sea dragon or a dragon with her wings flapping up while landing too :)

Mike

[Ryderscope]

Thanks Mike. These busy areas of the Milky Way can make for some different imaging targets.

[topheart]

Well done Rodney!
Cheers,
Tim

[Placidus]

The tiny little cluster at the red end of orange is most beautiful, and wonderfully contrasted with the small number of extra-bright blue stars.

Beautifully executed.

[gregbradley]

Lovely rich colours make this a very appealing image.

Greg.

[multiweb]

Wonderful field Rodney. Really like the colours on this one. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Andy01]

Nice find and well resolved - the Seahorse is pretty cool :thumbsup:

[willik]

Very nice capture Rodney :thumbsup:
Martin

[Ryderscope]

Tim, MnT, Greg, Marc, Andy, Martin,
Many thanks for the feedback everyone. I have now finished my capture run on NGC6334, Cats Paw Nebula, so we will be back to processing some more traditional objects.
Cheers.