M52 and the Bubble Nebula

Open Cluster M52 and the Bubble Nebula.

"To the eye, this cosmic composition nicely balances the Bubble Nebula at the upper right with open star cluster M52. The pair would be lopsided on other scales, though. Embedded in a complex of interstellar dust and gas and blown by the winds from a single, massive O-type star, the Bubble Nebula (aka NGC 7635) is a mere 10 light-years wide. On the other hand, M52 is a rich open cluster of around a thousand stars. The cluster is about 25 light-years across. Seen toward the northern boundary of Cassiopeia, distance estimates for the Bubble Nebula and associated cloud complex are around 11,000 light-years, while star cluster M52 lies nearly 5,000 light-years away."

- https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap091030.html

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Likely the best I can do with the L-Pro filter.

Technical Info:

Optics: SGO 6" f/4 Imaging Newtonian @ 610mm FL

Explore Scientific 2" HR Coma Corrector

Camera: ZWO ASI533MC Pro

Filter: 2" Optolong L-Pro

Mount: Losmandy GM8

Guiding: QHY Mini Guide Scope + PHD2 Software

Acquisition: Sequence Generator Pro

Exposure: Light (Gain 200) - 130 subs @ 120 Seconds

Calibration: 50 Bias, 30 Darks, 50 Flats

Temperature: 17 C

Camera Temperature: -10 C

Bortle: 7/8

​Processing:

• Deep Sky Stacker
• Adobe Photoshop
• Topaz Denoise AI
• Astronomy Action Set plug in for PS
• Astro Flat Pro plug in for PS

LESSON: Perfect balancing required for meridian flips

So, last night I had intended to image the Draco Trio all night which to no surprise requires a meridian flip. I had great guiding until it got past the meridian. It started a slow degrade from there. I ended up changing targets to another object on the east side.

Don't cheat on balancing! Spend an extra minute trying to get as close to 'east biased' as possible. After the flip set a slight bias to the West. In general, I try to avoid flips altogether and stay on the east side of the mount when possible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYKycMPwpQ8

Anyway, here is 2 hours on the Draco Trio.

2 Hours on the Draco Trio

40 minutes on M52 and the Bubble Nebula