NSA (Night Sky Archives) - 001, M45

Target Description

Object: M45 — The Pleiades (Seven Sisters)

Catalog Type: Open Star Cluster

Constellation: Taurus

Distance: ~444 light-years

Capture Date: January 20, 2026

Location: Hemet CA, 33.7500° N, 116.9800° W

Program: Shank Gym Observatory Remote / Night Sky Archive

Imaging System

Telescope: ZWO Seestar S50

Optics: 50mm f/5 refractor

Sensor: Integrated CMOS

Filter: IR-Cut

Mount: Integrated alt-az tracking

Capture Details

Exposure Length: 10 seconds

Total Frames: 617

Total Integration Time: ~1 hour 43 minutes

Acquisition Mode: Automated stacking

Stacking: In-device

Post-Processing: Minimal (contrast and background normalization only)

Observational Notes

This capture emphasizes the core stars of the Pleiades cluster along with surrounding reflection nebulosity, most notably the faint blue dust illuminated by nearby hot stars. The nebulosity is subtle but clearly present, particularly around Alcyone and Merope, indicating sufficient integration depth for a short-exposure system.

Star color separation is well preserved, with minimal blooming and controlled halos around the brightest members. Field density and background noise remain consistent across the frame, suggesting stable tracking and cooperative atmospheric conditions throughout the session.

Processing Status

To allow the Expedition report to be filed without delay, the image presented here is a relatively raw stacked capture with only minimal normalization applied. Full post-processing will be completed later this week, and a finalized version of this image will be added to the Night Sky Archive as a companion entry.

Both versions are intentionally preserved: the initial stack as a record of acquisition conditions and integration depth, and the finalized image as a reference for post-processing decisions and visual refinement.

Context & Purpose

This image is part of the Night Sky Archive, tied directly to race expeditions and an ongoing personal observatory project focused on curiosity-driven observation rather than technical optimization or publication metrics.

The goal is not astrophotographic perfection, but repeated, hands-on engagement with the night sky as a parallel practice to endurance training and field research.

Each capture serves as a timestamped visual record — a way of returning to the same objects over time, under different conditions, with evolving understanding.

Archive Tags

Night Sky Archive · Shank Observatory · M45 · Pleiades · Open Cluster · Reflection Nebula · Deep Sky