M45 - The Pleiades or Seven Sisters

Full size image can be seen here : The Pleiades with Canon 400D

M45 in Taurus
12 x 15 minute exposures (3 hours)
Skywatcher 200P Newt / Canon 400D
Sailsbury (Dark sky site)

M45 is also known as the Pleiades or Seven Sisters. Unfortunately in this close up image the full seven are not visible. This is one of the closest star clusters to us, and is clearly visible to the naked eye as a 'cloudy patch' in the night sky. The cluster is dominated by hot blue stars which are lighting up the dust cloud they are passing through.

M13 Star Cluster

Full size image can be seen here : M13 with Canon 400D

M13 in Hercules
14 x 5 minute exposures (70 minutes)
Skywatcher 8" Newt / Canon 400D
Romney Marsh (Dark sky site)
Published in Sky at Night Magazine, September 2009

This star cluster is 25,000 light years away from earth, and contains several hundred thousand stars, although some say up to 1 million. The age of M13 has been estimated to approximately 13 billion years.