This is the superb Small Magellanic Cloud, a member of the Local Group, and a satellite galaxy of our Milky Way. While not as richly endowed with neb
This is the superb Small Magellanic Cloud, a member of the Local Group, and a satellite galaxy of our Milky Way. While not as richly endowed with nebulas and clusters as its nearby companion, the Large Magellanic Cloud, the SMC is still a wonderful region to explore. However, the two most notable objects in this scene do not belong to the SMC, but are closer objects that just happen to lie near it in the sky in the constellation of Tucana. At right is the spectacular globular cluster NGC 104 or 47 Tucanae, perhaps the finest globular in the sky. At top is what is dubbed as the "Mini 47 Tuc," or NGC 362, as through a telescope it looks like a smaller version of 47 Tuc, with a similar compressed core. Above and below 47 Tuc, respectively, is the small globular NGC 121 and large open cluster Kron 3. The bright cyan nebula in the SMC is NGC 362, with the large star cluster NGC 395 to the left, and the smaller cluster NGC 330 below it. The small cyan nebula below and left of the main region of the SMC is NGC 456. Farther out is the very cyan NGC 602. The field is by 5º. This is a stack of 14 x 4-minute exposures with the Sharpstar 61mm EDPH III refractor at and the filter-modified (by ) Canon R at ISO 800, on the Astro-Physics AP400 mount autoguided with the MGEN3 autoguider. No filter was employed in the light path. Taken March 3, 2024 from the Mirrabook Cottage near Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia, on the first night of a successful two-week observing run down under.
Size: 6720px × 4480px
Photo credit: © Alan Dyer / VWPics / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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