M35 & NGC2158 "The unlikely double cluster"

[Paramount]

Hi
I don't normally do star clusters especially the open clusters as I don't personally find them "interesting enough" (with the exception of M45 and the double cluster where there is something else of interest in the FOV) but on the odd occasion when weather and light pollution is too bad and the right combination of subjects come into view I give them a go as in the case of this image of M35 and NGC2158 which are two very contrasting open clusters that are totally unrelated to each other. M35 is a relatively young cluster made up of bluish stars while NGC2158 is about 10x older and made up of reddish stars and is also 4x further away than M35. They appear nicely in the FOV of the FSQ106ED and ML8300.
Exposure time is 12x5 minutes each for RGB which took me all night to do with continual interuptions for cloud and occasional rain
Here is a link to the full size image
http://www.pbase.com/imaging_the_heavens/image/140799828/original
Thanks for looking
Best wishes
Gordon

[SkyViking]

Lovely image! That's one of my favourite clusters. I used to gaze at M35 often back when I had my first telescope (60mm refractor), the beautiful arc of stars across the cluster was always striking and the distant NGC2158 was a nice bonus in the FOV.
Nicely captured, thanks for the view.

[OzRob]

It's a great target and nicely captured.

I agree that open clusters are a bit 'boring' with refractors. That is why I generally add spikes during post-processing.

[astroron]

Nice image, M35 is easily seen in a pair of 10x60 binoculars,But NGC 2158 needs a good scope to resolve any stars in it .
Thanks for posting.
Cheers :thumbsup:

[Ross G]

A great looking photo Gordon.

Ross.