Messier 34 (also known as M34, NGC 1039, or the Spiral Cluster) is a large and relatively near open cluster in Perseus. It was probably discovered by Giovanni Batista Hodierna before 1654 and included by Charles Messier in his catalog of comet-like objects in 1764. Messier described it as, “A cluster of small stars a little below the parallel of γ (Andromedae). In an ordinary telescope of 3 feet one can distinguish the stars.”
Object Designations: Messier 34, M34, NGC 1039
Also known as:
Constellation: Perseus
Object Type: Spiral Cluster
Distance: 1500 light-years away
Magnitude: 5.5
Discovery: Giovanni Batista Hodierna before 1654
This final image is:
28 – 15 second subs at 100 gain – no filter – 7 minutes of integration
I processed the images using Pixinsight using:
Blink to clear out low quality images
Weighted Batch Balance
SpectroPhotometricCalibration
AutomaticBackgroundExtractor
BlurExterminator
NoiseExterminator
GeneralizedHyperbolicStrectch
ColorCalibration on both versions
StarXTerminator
Curves on both versions using other version as mask
Pixmath to put stars back with both images.
