NGC 6357

[Sam]

NGC 6357 is about 8000 light years away just underneath Scorpius (or above in the Northern hemisphere). It's a huge star forming region with some very large stars - one of them even bigger than 200 solar masses, so when that one goes boom it'll leave a big blackhole.

This image was taken tonight with a Canon 1000D through a 250px, autoguided with PHD through EQMOD. The post processing was done with PixInsight. The image is 2hrs 10mins of 5min exposures. I think the focus could have been a bit better and I had a few guiding errors on this one. Overall though, a new object I haven't imaged before in a very busy part of the sky. Looks like the good weather is not sticking around so I don't think I'll get much more for this one.

[Quatermass]

Thats a stunning image really good.

[Ponoobersie]

Wow! amazing image very well done you!!!

[Gina]

Great - lovely image

[Sam]

Cheers guys.